A new 5MW solar energy facility is being developed in the City of Mendota to produce photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity which will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric. The solar energy plant is scheduled to begin operations in the spring of 2009 and is dubbed “CalRENEW-1″. The company behind the new plant is Cleantech America and they say that the plant will use a variety of PV technologies and will generate peak electricity.

Thus far I have seen no information on cost for the project or any kind of estimate on the yearly level of greenhouse gas emissions that might be retired as a result of operation. Similarly there is no real figure given to the number of homes that would be powered by the new solar energy plant.

What is highlighted is that the solar farm will help California meet the stringent renewable energy and carbon reduction goals.

For more information about the CalRENEW-1 project you can read the press release.

You can read about other solar energy developments in construction by visitng the solar energy page.