State Regulators Back TEP Plans for 10 New Renewable Power Projects (AZ)

[jpak]

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR2178.htm

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has expressed its support for Tucson Electric Power's plan to purchase the output of 10 new renewable power projects that together will generate nearly 150 megawatts (MW), enough energy to power more than 30,000 Tucson homes.

The ACC concluded that TEP's agreements to purchase energy from eight new Tucson-area solar power systems, a landfill gas generation project and a New Mexico wind farm are "an appropriate component" of its efforts to comply with state renewable energy goals. The commission's endorsement allows developers of the systems to proceed with efforts to finalize financing, secure land rights and clear other necessary hurdles in hopes of completing their projects in time to begin providing power in 2011 or 2012.

"These systems will dramatically expand our renewable energy assets, helping us meet or even beat our state goals while establishing TEP as a national leader in solar energy," said Paul Bonavia, Chairman, President and CEO of TEP and its parent company, UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS).

Solar projects with a combined capacity of 97 MW would be developed in the Tucson area under the contracts, including:

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