8minutenergy Renewables hosted a groundbreaking event for construction of the 137MWdc (105 MWac) Springbok 1 Solar Farm. The solar farm has a signed PPA with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), on behalf of its participating member, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

The Springbok 1 project is a utility-scale solar generation facility sited on up to about 700 acres of abandoned farmland taken out of production more than 20 years ago.  The location is 70 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County, California. Once it reaches commercial operations in June 2016, the Springbok 1 project is expected to displace the equivalent of approximately 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, which is equal to the amount that roughly 12 million trees would displace annually.

The solar power system for Springbok 1 Solar Farm is comprised of state-of-the-art solar PV modules, related power electronics and other components including an advanced tracking system that follows the sun to maximize energy production.

The solar farm project has also created an estimated 300 direct and 400 indirect jobs during construction in Kern County, and 8minutenergy has helped host local job fairs with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

“Add to that the economic impact the project is having in the region, and we believe this project is a model for productive private and public partnership,” said 8minutenergy President Tom Buttgenbach.