Energy developer announces solar plus project in Imperial County

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A leading renewable energy developer, owner and operator Arevon Energy, Inc., hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of operations at its Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project in Imperial County, near Holtville.

The energy developer says the $529 million project includes 157 megawatts (MW) of solar coupled with 150 MW/600 megawatt hours of battery energy storage.

The CEO of Arevon Energy, Kevin Smith, says this project will benefit both the Imperial Valley and San Diego.

"There are a bunch of benefits: number one the investment here throws off a significant amount of tax revenue...so there is about $17 million of tax revenue that would go to the local areas here and to the county and in addition, we have the clean electricity supplies to this type of project with energy storage that provides great stability, reduces blackouts and also can keep electricity prices down during peak hours," Smith said.

Smith says plans for the project started about three years ago and the groundbreaking took place last year.