Alamosa solar plant's success helps prove resource's viability on large scale (CO)

[jpak]

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11299138

A sun-powered generating station in the San Luis Valley will finish 2008 as the nation's most productive utility-scale solar electricity plant.

The 82-acre SunEdison station north of Alamosa generated enough power this year to serve 1,652 homes, making it the largest plant of its kind in the nation.

Solar experts said the facility's successful first year of operation should help convince utilities that sun power can be a viable part of the U.S. generation mix, even though its costs are higher and its output more intermittent than traditional coal- and natural-gas-fired generators.

Xcel Energy is using the plant's power to help it meet the renewable-energy standards approved by Colorado voters and state legislators over the past four years.

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