KEY FACTS

Electric Capacity
Contracted to deliver up to 150 megawatts of
renewable energy to San Diego Gas & Electric.

Location

Imperial County, California

The Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West is under construction
in Imperial County, California, by Tenaska Solar Ventures, an affiliate of
Tenaska. This is a significant solar energy project that will:
l

Generate hundreds of green jobs in California;

Contribute to Imperial Countys economic growth and reputation as the

renewable energy capital of the nation;
l

l Diversify Californias energy portfolio and provide much-needed

environmentally responsible power during periods of highest electricity

demand;
l Help California electricity providers meet the states Renewables

Portfolio Standard; and

l Help meet the United States increasing demand for clean, renewable

electrical power.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy

Center West is being constructed
with photovoltaic (PV) solar power
technology. When operating at peak
times, it will produce enough electricity
to meet the needs of more than 55,000
California homes.
PV technology converts sunlight directly
into electricity utilizing panels that do
not emit any greenhouse gases as they
track the sun. PV technology has very
limited water supply requirements,
which is an important consideration for
the Imperial Valley.
The project is located on previously
disturbed land that has been abandoned
for more than two decades.

The Tenaska Imperial West project site is on

more than 1,100 acres of abandoned agricultural land in Imperial County about eight miles
west of the city of El Centro.

Schedule
Imperial County approved the project in 2011.
Construction began in the second half of 2014.
Commercial operation is expected in 2016.

Jobs
This project is expected to provide more
than 800 jobs at peak construction. Longer
term, the project is forecast to provide
approximately four to five direct operations
and maintenance jobs.

Minimal Use of Water Resources

Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight
directly into electricity and, therefore, has
minimal water supply requirements, an
important consideration for the Imperial
Valley.

Transmission Interconnection
The project will connect with the California
Independent System Operator (CAISO) at the
existing Imperial Valley electric transmission
substation located on U.S. Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) land in the Yuha Desert.
New transmission lines have been located
within a BLM land tract currently used for
high-voltage electricity transmission.

Project Developer/Owner
Tenaska Solar Ventures, an affiliate of Tenaska,
manages the project. CSOLAR IV West,
LLC, a Tenaska affiliate, is the owner of the
project. Tenaska (www.tenaska.com) is an
energy company based in Omaha, Nebraska,
with a proven track record of developing,
constructing, owning and operating state-ofthe-art electric generating plants.

Websites
www.tenaskasolarventures.com
www.tenaskaimperialsolar.com

By the Numbers

Tenaska Projects Already Benefiting Imperial County

Tenaskas first solar project Tenaska Imperial Solar
Energy Center South is now delivering clean power
to its customer, San Diego Gas & Electric. Tenaska
has a proven record of developing successful solar
projects in Imperial County and making anticipated
economic benefits a reality.
Tenaska Imperial South represents an investment
of more than $500 million in the Imperial Valleys
economy. It was selected from among five major
energy projects as 2013 Project of the Year by the
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation
(IVEDC) for the projects significant contributions to
the region.

500 Construction Jobs; 70 Percent Local

Of the 500 construction workers hired to perform
work at the Tenaska Imperial South site,
approximately 70 percent were from communities
in Imperial County, including Brawley, El Centro,
Heber, Imperial and Calexico. This is a result of
Tenaskas commitment to hire local workers and
contractors when possible, which has included
local job fairs and advertising. Those efforts
continue with Tenaska Imperial West.

Imperial County leaders joined representatives from

Tenaska and San Diego Gas & Electric to ceremonially place
the first of nearly 2 million solar panels that make up the
Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South near El Centro,
California, during an October 2012 celebration.

$20 Million in Local Contracts

Tenaska worked with the IVEDC to establish a procurement program
to help renewable energy projects in Imperial Valley identify and
accept bids from qualified local contractors and vendors during
construction and operation. More than $20 million in construction
contracts were awarded to local companies, including Duggins
Construction Inc. and Granite Construction, during construction of
the Tenaska Imperial South project alone.

Tenaska is committed to hiring locally for construction and

operations jobs and in selecting local vendors, when possible. At the Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South near
El Centro, California, approximately 70 percent of construction workers came from communities in Imperial County.

$3 Million Paid in Local Sales Tax

Tenaska was the first solar developer to designate Imperial County
as the place of purchase for all of its solar panels and other local
goods and services, ensuring the county would benefit from the
sales tax. The county received more than $3 million total from the
Tenaska Imperial South project alone.

Coordination With 3 Local Education Institutions

Tenaska is working with Imperial Valley College, San Diego States
Imperial Valley campus and Imperial County Office of Education
to provide education and renewable energy career counseling.
Tenaska Imperial South instituted an annual college scholarship
program for public high school students in the Valley and has
awarded $16,000 in scholarships to date.
5/1/15

Imperial County received more than $3 million in sales tax

revenues from the purchase of solar panels during construction of Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South.