#United States #Clean Energy #San Bernardino #Terra-Gen #Lockhart Solar

Terra-Gen Celebrates Commercial Launch of Lockhart Solar and Storage

Terra-Gen, a leading independent renewable energy producer in the United States, recently celebrated the opening of its $950 million Lockhart Solar and Storage project located in San Bernardino County, California. This ambitious project, co-owned by Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, reflects a significant milestone not only for the company but also for the ongoing transition to renewable energy across the nation.

The celebration took place during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Hinkley facility, attended by numerous stakeholders including company employees, state and local officials, as well as project partners and lenders.

During his speech, CEO John O'Connor highlighted the importance of this project for the region, stating, "Today is about recognizing the people and partnerships that brought Lockhart to life and celebrating what this project means for the region. Solar is one of the most economical sources of new electricity, and storage extends its value by making that energy available when it's needed most." This combined capacity from solar and storage aims to significantly bolster California's electricity supply amidst growing demand.

The Lockhart facility is impressive, featuring over 925,000 solar modules and 248 battery enclosures. With a combined output of 365 megawatts (MW) from solar generation and 173.7 MW from battery storage, the complex is set to provide adequate energy for approximately 350,000 homes and businesses annually.

Beyond just generating green energy, the construction phase of the Lockhart project created more than 1,000 on-site jobs, accumulating over 880,000 hours worked over a span of four years. Economically, the project's contributions to the local community are expected to exceed $40 million in property tax revenue throughout its operational lifecycle, alongside further community benefits.

Simon Day, the vice president and head of solar development at Terra-Gen, expressed gratitude for the hard work of the employees and contractors, remarking, "Their commitment to delivering the project on schedule and on budget while maintaining a strong focus on safety made this milestone possible."

Noteworthy partners include Cupertino Electric, which handled the balance-of-plant engineering, procurement, and construction tasks, and EPC Services, which took on the high-voltage contract. Additionally, solar modules were provided by First Solar, while Nextpower supplied the tracking systems used in the facility. The Lockhart site operates under various offtake agreements with corporate entities, as well as long-term power purchase agreements with California load-serving entities.

About Terra-Gen

Founded as a key player in renewable energy development, Terra-Gen LLC manages a vast portfolio encompassing 4.4 gigawatts of wind, solar, and battery storage projects across the United States, predominantly in states like California and Texas. The company is owned by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), a clean energy leader, and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, a global investment manager overseeing about $24.5 billion in infrastructure assets. Their joint efforts aim to ramp up the production of reliable, affordable clean energy to American homes.

As global energy transformation continues, the Lockhart Solar and Storage project stands as a promising indicator of future advancements in the renewable sector, potentially setting a benchmark for similar initiatives in the years to come.