The 100 MW Boulder Solar 1 began construction on 600 acres in December 2015, and went online in mid-December 2016.[2][3] It uses 288,000 tracker-mounted panels manufactured by SunPower.[4] It has an expected annual production of about 280 GWh and will provide Boulder City with $20 million in land lease payments over the 20-year term.[5][6]
Southern Power purchased a controlling (51%) interest in Boulder Solar 1 in November 2016.[7] New Energy Solar purchased the remaining 49% interest in February 2018.[8] The electricity is being sold to NV Energy under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Along with geothermal power and numerous smaller solar energy installations throughout the city, Boulder Solar 1 allowed Las Vegas to operate all municipal services with renewable energy sources starting at the end of 2016.[3]
The 50 MW Boulder Solar 2, also constructed by SunPower, entered service in January 2017 with an expected annual production of 140 GWh.[9] It is owned by American Electric Power and is also selling its electricity to NV Energy.[9]Apple Inc. motivated this construction phase of the project through the participation of its northern Nevada data centers in the NV GreenEnergy Rider opportunity.[10][11]
Electricity production
Map of solar farms in the Eldorado Valley
Total Facility Generation (Annual Sum from Both Units Below)
