Phoenix Landfill Concentrated Solar Thermal Project to come Online late 2012
The City of Phoenix, Arizona is working a solar thermal project that when completed will be the city’s largest ever solar project. The solar thermal technology will be purchased from Tessera Solar. The utility-scale solar plant is being constructed at the city’s only active landfill, at SR 85 in Buckeye, Ariz. It will result in nearly $1 billion in private investment, 300 construction jobs and more than 60 permanent jobs. The plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2012 and is projected to provide power to 50,000 homes.
“This innovative project is part of the city’s 17-point Green Phoenix plan,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “It will promote clean energy and create hundreds of local jobs.”
The project will generate up to 250 megawatts (MW) of power and Phoenix will be the first city in the country to implement a concentrated solar thermal system of this scale. It also incorporates a component that converts landfill gas to energy. The project will last at least 25 years and is on land that Phoenix owns in Buckeye.
“The sun is the biggest power plant in the universe, and with this project we will be able to tap some of its energy to create jobs and clean power for thousands of residents,” said Councilwoman Peggy Neely, who chairs the City Council subcommittee that focuses on sustainability.
“Renewable energy industries like solar have been targeted by our economic development efforts,” said Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck. “It is gratifying that our continuing partnership with the city of Phoenix will bring the first project of that target group to Buckeye.”
The city of Phoenix will work closely with Tessera Solar and the town of Buckeye, and will partner with local educational institutions to promote renewable energy education and research and development opportunities. “Tessera Solar is pleased to have been selected by the city of Phoenix to develop 250 MW of solar and landfill gas conversion energy on the SR 85 site,” said Tessera Solar CEO Robert Lukefahr.
“We commend the city for its forward-thinking leadership and its decision to pursue renewable energy on underutilized land.”
The solar project complements the city’s policy goals of a renewable energy target of 15 percent by 2025 and a Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction goal for city operations to five percent below the 2005 levels by 2015. It is the latest Phoenix sustainability innovation. The city is celebrating its 20th anniversary as the first city to implement single-stream recycling. For more than 30 years, Phoenix has stood as a national leader in implementing a municipal energy management program.
“We focus on energy conservation and efficiency throughout the city, with effective programs in many areas to benefit the community,” said Rick Naimark, Phoenix deputy city manager.
For more information on the solar project and other Phoenix sustainability programs, visit phoenix.gov/publicworks and phoenix.gov/greenphoenix.
Tags: Arizona, clean energy, concentrated, concentrated solar, concentrated solar thermal, conservation, efficiency, Greenhouse, jobs, power, Power plant, renewable, renewable energy, Solar Investment, solar plant, solar project, solar thermal, solar thermal system, stirling, Sun, sustainability, Tessera Solar
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