Avangrid continues to make progress on major projects
Avangrid continues to make progress on major energy projects from the west coast to Ohio. These projects, all solar facilities, will add new energy capacity onto local electrical grids to support quickly growing demand for energy across the country.
Camino
Avangrid recently announced that it began to export power onto the California grid from its Camino solar project in Kern County, California. This marks a major milestone for the 44 MWac (57 MWdc) project ahead of commercial operation expected later this spring. Camino will deliver reliable energy onto the California grid for homes, businesses, and industry, and contribute important economic benefits to the community and region.
“First energy is always cause for celebration, and is a direct result of years of hard work developing and building a new project,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “Camino will help meet a growing demand for power and support the region’s energy independence, while creating jobs and delivering key economic benefits.”
Avangrid installed about 105,000 solar panels at the project late last year, which will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of about 14,000 U.S. homes a year. The project represents a direct investment in Kern County of about $100 million. Construction has supported about 100 jobs, nearly all filled locally and with union labor.
“IBEW Local 428 members worked on the Camino solar project with Avangrid and its contractors,” said Brian Holt, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 428. “When companies like Avangrid use union labor for their infrastructure projects, they make a significant impact on our community, providing living wages that support families, along with healthcare and retirement benefits. They also offer our area’s youth valuable training opportunities, enabling them to learn our trade and become the next generation of skilled craftsmen.”
“LiUNA! Local 220 members had the opportunity to work with our signatory partners to build the project on time and under budget,” said Hertz Ramirez, Business Manager for Local 220. “Local area Apprentices and Journeymen who live within Kern County had the opportunity to earn a living wage along with great benefits such as vacation, health insurance, annuity, and a Pension. We look forward to working with the contractors and thank Avangrid for the opportunity to showcase our trained and skilled workforce.”
Once construction is completed, it will support several full-time, local jobs. Additionally, the project is expected to generate about $15 million in state and local taxes during its lifetime. While Avangrid has begun to produce and export power onto the grid at Camino, work continues on other aspects of the project ahead of commercial operation.Camino is being constructed next to Avangrid’s 189 MW Manzana project, which was built in 2012. When construction is completed, Camino will become the tenth solar project in Avangrid’s portfolio. Avangrid has six other projects in California, ranging from San Diego County to the Bay Area, with a combined operating capacity of over 500 MW.
Powell Creek
Avangrid also recently delivered first energy from its Powell Creek Solar project to the Ohio electrical grid. This represents new energy generation to support growing demand in Ohio and the rest of the region. Avangrid continues with commissioning activities and other related work ahead of commercial operation which is expected later this year.
Powell Creek’s 300,000 solar panels will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of about 30,000 homes each year. The project has supported over 500 jobs during construction, most of them being local union workers from the region.
The project will directly support the community through property tax and landowner payments. The project is estimated to contribute over $31 million to local taxing jurisdictions over its life, which supports a variety of public services, including education.
This is Avangrid’s second project in Ohio. Avangrid built its Blue Creek project in 2012, which has a capacity of 304 MW and generates enough power for about 76,000 homes each year.
Tower Solar
In December, Avangrid announced one of its newest energy projects, Tower Solar, in Morrow County, Oregon. The project will deliver renewable energy to the Portland General Electric’s (PGE) grid through their Green Future Impact (GFI) program. Under PGE’s GFI program, QTS, a leading data center solutions provider, is developing a data center campus to support Meta’s operations in the region that will be supported by renewable energy from Tower Solar, helping to meet Meta’s sustainability and 100% renewable energy goals.
The 120 MWac (166 MWdc) project is being built on about 900 acres of land owned by the Port of Morrow near the Boardman Airport and will utilize over 200,000 solar panels. At the peak of construction, Avangrid expects Tower Solar to create more than 200 jobs, the vast majority of which will be sourced from the region. Tower Solar is expected to pay about $20 million in combined PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) and property taxes which will support a variety of public services, including education.
