SunPower announced it has begun construction on the 102MW (AC) Henrietta Solar Project in Kings County, Calif. The system will generate power for Pacific Gas and Electric's customers under a long-term power purchase agreement. SunPower expects the plant to be operational by the end of 2016.

"With more than 5.8GW of operating solar systems worldwide, SunPower designs and builds solar power plants to leverage the company's proven experience and our technology's outstanding power-producing performance," said Jorg Heinemann, SunPower executive vice president, global power plants. "SunPower customers rely on the cost-competitive, emission-free power and long-term return on investment that our systems deliver."

SunPower anticipates that about 350 jobs will be created during construction of Henrietta. Approximately $73 million in local economic impact and an estimated $3.8 million in tax revenue will be generated as a result of the project. Once operational, the Henrietta project is expected to generate enough electricity for more than 22,000 homes, according to estimates provided by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the completed plant will offset the annual production of almost 128,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the equivalent of removing more than 614,000 cars from California's roads over the next 25 years.