Joined federal, state and local leaders as well as executives from NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, Southern California Edison and First Solar, the 250MW Silber State South Solar Project was broken ground in Primm Nevada. The project is strategically located near a major transmission hub and is adjacent to an existing power plant and transmission line corridor.

A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will own and operate the project. All of the power from Silver State South will be provided to Southern California Edison under a long-term contract.

"Renewable energy sources such as solar power play an important role in the future energy mix in this country," said Armando Pimentel, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources. "We look forward to working with First Solar and Southern California Edison to make this project a reality."

"Coming on the eve of the Clean Energy Summit, the timing of the Silver State South groundbreaking couldn't be more perfect," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, noting that the Silver State South Solar Project will provide 300 construction jobs and create benefits for many local businesses in addition to generating state and local tax revenue.

First Solar is building Silver State South, which is the company's fifth utility-scale solar power plant in development, construction or operation in southern Nevada. It also positions First Solar as the largest solar developer in the state with approximately 750MW of projects in various stages of development, construction and operation.

When fully operational by early 2016, the project is expected to generate enough clean solar energy to serve the needs of approximately 80,000 homes per year, displacing approximately 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually-the equivalent of taking nearly 30,000 cars off the road.