California's Solar Energy on the Rise: Google Invests in Regulus Solar Plant; Promotes Clean Energy Technologies [PHOTO]
According to Think Progress, a large abandoned oil and gas field in California will be converted into a large solar plant as a result of a partnership between Google and SunEdison. Google is investing $145 million into the project, and when completed it will be able to feed enough power to the grid for 10,000 homes and bring nearly 650 jobs to the surrounding area of Lamont, California.
Deemed the "Regulus" solar power plant, the plant will be the largest solar project completed by SunEdison in North America. The LA Times reports that it is building the project for Maryland based TerraForm Power Inc., which owns and operates many power plants around the world.
Nick Coons, renewable energy principal at Google, stated, "We believe the world needs a wide range of clean energy technologies, each serving different needs... This project with SunEdison presented an opportunity to take an old gas and oil field and turn it into a clean energy producing solar site. It made sense to support it on multiple levels," further explaining Google's reasoning for the project.
Coons went on to say, "Our investment in the Regulus solar project will give new life to a long-valued piece of land... There's something a little poetic about creating a renewable resource on land that once creaked with oil wells," highlighting the project's poetic irony.
The Regulus project initiative began last December, and will begin operation later this year. The LA Times reports that the project will sell power to Southern California Edison through a 20-year purchase agreement. According to Think Progress, Regulus is Google's 17th renewable energy investment. Five of those investments have been made in California. Unsurprisingly, California has now become the epicenter of the nation's solar industry.
According to the Seattle Times, California's solar generation hit a record earlier this year, accounting for 6% of energy from the California Independent System Operator. The state is continuing to invest in clean energy technology, and builds many of its solar installations in the desert. The Regulus project will be one of many of its proud achievements.
