First Solar Anticipates to Commence Construction of Solar Power Plant in California

First Solar declared that it has obtained the concluding environmental endorsement for its proposed 230 MW solar PV project in northern Los Angeles County. The company has plans to commence the construction of the plant this year and anticipates completing the project by the end of the year 2013.

First Solar has proposed the construction of the AV Solar Ranch One plant next to Route 138 and received the support from the overseers of the reserve. The chosen project location has come under an area where a high-voltage power line that supplies electricity to millions of households and businesses in Los Angeles runs through it and the nearby poppy reserve. The project received objections from Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor, stating that such permission will obstruct the work carried out by the test center that tests the radar-evading stealth technology. But the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors rejected the objection. The U.S. Department of Defense, which is planning to install a large-sized solar plant in its Edwards Air Force Base near the AV Solar Ranch One project location neither supported the project nor objected to its installation.

After the rejection of the Northrop Grumman’s objection, the county board of Supervisors issued a conditional use permit along with the Environmental Impact Report and gave 30 days time for filing counter law suits and no such law suits were received during the period. Now first solar is anticipated to commence the construction of the project soon. The project is expected to generate around 400 employment opportunities in the region.