Sandrini I and II have been unveiled today in Kern County, California, a new 300-MW solar project that is expected to generate enough power for over 76,000 homes yearly in the state. Both projects were commissioned late last year and have power purchase agreements with different companies. Sandrini I has a PPA with Shell Energy North America. Sandrini II has a power purchase agreement with Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Park Capacity
The first park has a capacity of 200 MW while Sandrini II has a capacity of 100 MW. The total cost of both projects were not disclosed however, during construction, over 200 workers were employed. The projects are expected to see a handful of positions opening up for permanent operations.
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According to EDP Renewables North America LLC, both phases of the solar energy park yield enormous environmental benefits. These include saving over 381 million gallons of water annually which will help aid Kern County’s water conservation goals. Moreover, there are several small business such as restaurants, retailers, and hotels located near the project who will benefit from cheaper electricity produced.
Project Overview
Location: Kern County, California
Capacity: Sandrini I 200-MW, Sandrini II 100-MW
Developer: EDP Renewables North America LLC
PPA’s: Sandrini I- Shell Energy North America, Sandrini II- Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA)
Community Benefit of the Sandrini Solar projects in California
California’s Community Choice Aggregators serve communities in the state with clean, cheap, energy and already has 8,000 MW of new clear energy resources currently online. Sandrini II will also contribute to the CCA’s who have already contracted an additional 10,000 MW from projects that are either under development or construction. Redwood Coast Energy Authority is one of the 25 companies of the CCA who commented the following, “RCEA is committed to achieving our goal of supplying Humboldt County with 100% renewable energy. Sandrini II is a welcomed addition to our energy portfolio. We are proud to see another high-impact solar project go to work on behalf of our community.”
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It has been reported that over US$510,000 in tax payments have been paid to local governments since 2023 for the Sandrini I project. What’s more, around US$15 million will be paid to local landowners who lead a portion of their land for both the Sandrini projects. These financial benefits have strengthened the local communities schools, essential services and roads.
