Utility-Scale Solar Power Plant Delivers 100%
Clean, Renewable Energy to Switch Data Centers in Nevada
Switch Station 1 and Switch Station 2 solar power plants, with a
combined generation capacity of 179 MWac, were formally recognized
today as fully commissioned and in commercial operation at a
celebration attended by government officials, project owners and
the energy offtaker.
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U.S. Senator Harry Reid, U.S Bureau of
Land Management Nevada Director, John Ruhs, Clark County
Commissioner Chairman Steve Sisolak, Nevada State Energy Office
Director Angela Dykema and other federal, state and local leaders
joined executives from Switch, EDF Renewable Energy, NV Energy,
J.P. Morgan and First Solar, Inc. to ceremonially “throw the
switch” marking the delivery of solar power to Switch data centers
in Las Vegas and Reno. (Photo: Business Wire)
U.S. Senator Harry Reid, U.S Bureau of Land Management Nevada
Director, John Ruhs, Clark County Commissioner Chairman Steve
Sisolak, Nevada State Energy Office Director Angela Dykema and
other federal, state and local leaders joined executives from
Switch, EDF Renewable Energy, NV Energy, J.P. Morgan and First
Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) to ceremonially “throw the switch”
marking the delivery of solar power to Switch data centers in Las
Vegas and Reno. The Switch Station 1 and Switch Station 2 projects
are helping Switch meet its commitment to power its facilities with
100 percent clean energy.
Power generated by the plants, owned by EDF Renewable Energy
(EDF RE), will be provided to Switch through Power Purchase
Agreements with subsidiaries of NV Energy, Inc. (Nevada Power
Company d/b/a NV Energy and Sierra Pacific Power Company d/b/a NV
Energy).
“Less than a decade ago, Nevada’s solar energy landscape was
nonexistent, but this commissioning helps fulfill the vision I had
to make our state the leader in renewable energy development,” said
U.S. Senator Harry Reid. “A technology giant like Switch committing
to using 100% renewable energy is truly visionary and grows our
clean energy economy by creating hundreds of good-paying labor
construction jobs here.”
“Technology is revolutionizing the way renewable, clean energy
is produced, delivered and consumed and we are proud to be leaders
in driving that change,” said Switch Executive Vice President of
Strategy Adam Kramer. “Switch Station 1 and Switch Station 2
reflect our company’s bedrock value of ensuring the data that runs
our planet does not ruin our planet by building new, local,
renewable energy resources.”
Located in Clark County, Nevada the Switch Station solar
projects are the first-ever utility-scale solar power plants to be
built in one of the Bureau of Land Management’s Solar Energy Zones.
First Solar, the nation’s largest developer of utility-scale solar
projects, acquired the land to construct the facility through a
lease auction in 2014. EDF Renewable Energy, a leading U.S.
independent power producer, acquired the Switch Station projects
from First Solar to complement its existing portfolio of renewable
energy projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“I am proud to participate in the dedication of Switch Station 1
and Switch Station 2 solar projects. This is another great example
of the Federal Government and private industry collaborating on
improving our nation’s energy independence and infrastructure under
the auspices of multiple use of our shared public lands,” said
John Ruhs, BLM Nevada State Director.
“The project represents another clear demonstration of EDF RE’s
ambition in the solar business and also our first opportunity in
Nevada, a state with world-class solar resources,” said Cliff
Graham, Vice President, U.S. Development for EDF Renewable Energy.
“EDF RE is positioned to invest $3 billion between now and 2020 in
renewable projects across the country; we anticipate to deliver on
our projection and bring more jobs, tax dollars and investment to
Nevada.”
“Between 2005 and 2015, Nevada tripled its in-state renewable
energy production and reduced carbon emissions in the electricity
sector by 44 percent,” said Dave Ulozas, NV Energy Senior Vice
President of Renewable Resources. “These two important Switch
Station projects are two of 16 solar resources that are currently
meeting the needs of our customers and companies here in Nevada,
and NV Energy has more planned for the future.”
Following an expedited permitting process, construction of the
project took approximately 12 months, creating about 550,000
workhours, and had a total construction workforce of 1,300.
Combined, the power plants cover about 1,797 acres and are
comprised of 1,980,840 solar panels, the equivalent of 275 football
fields, and 5,450,056 feet of cable, equaling 1,032 miles or the
distance from Las Vegas to Seattle. The 179 MW of power generates
enough clean solar energy to meet the consumption of 46,000 homes,
displacing approximately 265,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide
(CO2) annually, equal to taking about 52,000 cars off the road.
“The Switch Station solar projects are a great example of how
our commitment to renewable energy has helped to stimulate economic
growth in the County. The solar projects created hundreds of
construction jobs and economic benefits, and the use of our
abundant natural resources are fueling long-term, high-tech job
creation centers such as Switch,” said Steve Sisolak, Chairman of
the Clark County Commission.
“This project confirms that solar energy is now available and
priced competitively with other energy sources that rely on
carbon-based fuels,” said Kathryn Arbeit, Vice President of Project
Development Americas for First Solar. “Our photovoltaic technology
is setting the standard for affordable, clean, renewable energy. By
continuously innovating, we are driving down the cost of solar
electricity and providing a solution that addresses energy security
and water scarcity. We are thrilled to continue working with our
partners to deliver on our joint commitment to build a more
sustainable energy future.”
About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive
photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and
system technology. The company’s integrated power plant solutions
deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel
electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through
end-of-life module recycling, First Solar’s renewable energy
systems protect and enhance the environment. www.firstsolar.com
For First Solar Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
include statements, among other things, concerning: effects on our
financial statements and guidance resulting from certain module
manufacturing changes and associated restructuring activities; our
business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in
and management plans for our business and the markets in which we
operate; future financial results, operating results, revenues,
gross margin, operating expenses, products, projected costs
(including estimated future module collection and recycling costs),
warranties, solar module technology and cost reduction roadmaps,
restructuring, product reliability, investments in unconsolidated
affiliates and capital expenditures; our ability to continue to
reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; the impact of public
policies, such as tariffs or other trade remedies imposed on solar
cells and modules; our ability to expand manufacturing capacity
worldwide; our ability to reduce the costs to construct PV solar
power systems; research and development programs and our ability to
improve the conversion efficiency of our solar modules; sales and
marketing initiatives; and competition. These forward-looking
statements are often characterized by the use of words such as
"estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend,"
"seek," "believe," "forecast," "foresee," "likely," "may,"
"should," "goal," "target," "might," "will," "could," "predict,"
"continue" and the negative or plural of these words and other
comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only
predictions based on our current expectations and our projections
about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update
any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters
discussed in Item 1A "Risk Factors," of our most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Switch
POWERING THE FUTURE OF THE CONNECTED WORLD® - Switch (NYSE:
SWCH) the technology infrastructure corporation headquartered in
Las Vegas, is built on the intelligent and sustainable growth of
the internet. Switch founder and CEO Rob Roy has developed more
than 400 issued and pending patent claims covering data center
designs that have manifested into the company’s world-renowned data
centers and technology solution
ecosystems. Visit switch.com for more
information.
About EDF Renewable Energy
EDF Renewable Energy is a leading US independent power
producer with over 30 years of expertise in the renewable industry,
covering all range of services from project origination,
development, sales and marketing, to long-term asset management.
EDF Renewable Energy specializes in wind and solar
photovoltaic with presence in other segments of the renewable
energy market: distributed electricity, storage, biogas, and
biomass. EDF Renewable Energy’s North American portfolio consists
of 9 gigawatts of developed projects with 4.4 gigawatts of
installed capacity throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. The
operations and maintenance subsidiary, EDF Renewable Services,
operates 13 gigawatts globally. EDF Renewable Energy is a
subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles. EDF Energies Nouvelles
is the renewable energy arm of the EDF group, the leading
electricity company in the world. For more information visit:
www.edf-re.com
About NV Energy
NV Energy, Inc., provides a wide range of energy services to 1.3
million customers throughout Nevada and more than 40 million
tourists annually. NV Energy is a holding company whose principal
subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power
Company, do business as NV Energy. NV Energy is headquartered in
Las Vegas, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the
company's website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can
be accessed via nvenergy.com
About J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank
J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank is a global leader
across banking, markets and investor services. The world’s most
important corporations, governments and institutions entrust us
with their business in more than 100 countries. With $22.7 trillion
of assets under custody and $421.6 billion in deposits, the
Corporate & Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises
capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the
world. Further information about J.P. Morgan is available at
www.jpmorgan.com.
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Purdue Marion & AssociatesBill Marion702-222-2362
702-283-0813(cell)bill@purduemarion.com