California Does It Again: New Solar Facility Powers Up to Light 181,000 Homes

alifornia has just notched another win in its journey toward green energy. MCE, a clean energy nonprofit, and its ally Clearway Energy Group have successfully launched their first-ever large-scale solar-plus-storage operation. Nestled in San Bernardino County, the Daggett Solar-Plus-Storage facility is more than just impressive—it ranks as one of the biggest installations of its kind in the nation.

"Flipping the switch on our first solar-plus-storage project is a huge milestone for MCE," said Dawn Weisz, the company’s CEO. Nestled near the site of the now-defunct Coolwater Generating Station, which was a coal and gas power plant, the Daggett facility is a solar powerhouse. Packing a punch with 482 MW of solar energy, this plant can light up a whopping 181,000 homes. Additionally, it boasts 280 MW of storage, reserving energy for times of high demand, which aids in upholding a stable power grid.

California's solar payout cuts refer to reductions in incentives or compensation for excess solar energy fed back into the grid, affecting solar adopters.

Beyond the tech specs, the project is also a win for local employment. Thanks to a collaboration with I.B.E.W. Local 477, the construction phase alone has generated more than 500 union jobs. “This is yet another significant stride toward advancing California’s clean energy transition while supporting green jobs,” Weisz pointed out. "The project has brought a billion-dollar investment to an energy transition community and will provide clean, reliable, and low-cost power to California homes and businesses for years to come," noted Clearway Energy Group's CEO, Craig Cornelius. As California continues to lead the charge in solar energy innovation and implementation, it cements its position as a beacon of progress towards a cleaner, brighter future powered by California solar energy

And this is just the beginning. MCE and Clearway are already gearing up for their next joint venture. Dubbed Golden Fields, this next solar-plus-storage project will be located in Kern County and is expected to come online by 2025.

California's privacy policy, notably through the CCPA, offers residents control over personal data, mandating transparency and options for data management.

Sources:

https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/

https://www.daggettsolar.com/about