East Line Solar Plant Now Delivering Utility Scale Clean Energy from Salt River Project to Intel

Salt River Project announced the grand opening of “East Line Solar” the 100-megawatt (MW) solar plant now delivering clean energy to SRP’s largest customer, Intel Corporation. As part of SRP’s ongoing commitment to support customers in achieving their sustainability goals, the 100 MW plant was initiated by SRP’s Sustainable Energy Offering and is owned and operated by sPower, which will merge with AES’ clean energy business in the U.S. in early 2021.

By receiving power from SRP’s East Line Solar, Intel’s Ocotillo Campus in Chandler is supplied with locally based, utility scale renewable energy.

CLICK HERE FOR B-ROLL OF THE SOLAR PLANT AND INTERVIEWS WITH SRP, INTEL AND SPOWER

“Intel is excited for East Line Solar to deliver green, renewable electricity to our Ocotillo facility in Chandler. This collaboration, which supplies nearly 50 percent of our current peak hour requirements, supports our advanced high-tech manufacturing,” shared Marty Sedler, Intel Director of Global Utilities and Infrastructure. “Intel is proud to extend our commitment to sustainability in Arizona.”

The Intel Ocotillo Campus is one of Intel’s largest and most advanced semiconductor manufacturing sites globally, and home to Fab 42, its latest Arizona facility. Intel, which began manufacturing in Chandler 40 years ago, is Arizona’s largest manufacturer, and with 12,000 employees is one of the state’s largest employers.

“Adding new clean energy resources in Arizona and working with long-term partners like Intel are some of the driving forces behind the large-scale commercial renewable energy offerings SRP has developed,” said Jim Pratt, Associate General Manager and Chief Customer Executive at SRP. “Our business customers are at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, and they understand the value associated with using clean energy to power large facilities and significantly reduce carbon emissions across their operations.”

East Line Solar is located in the town of Coolidge in Pinal County, Ariz., and built, owned and operated by sPower. The innovative 100 MW clean energy project will yield $10 million over the course 25 years in tax revenue. The project employed 350 workers at peak construction and approximately three full-time workers will be employed long-term to operate and maintain the plant. In addition to the 25 years of sustained tax revenue, the highest tax payments will be made at the onset of project operations, injecting new revenue into the local community.

“The completion of East Line Solar Project underscores the resiliency of the renewable energy industry; during this unprecedented time, we were able to safely deliver a reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solution that helps Intel and SRP achieve their renewable energy goals,” said Leo Moreno, President of AES Clean Energy. “We look forward to continuing to work with SRP and its customers in building a greener energy future for Arizona.”

Receiving solar energy through the Sustainable Energy Offering helps SRP customers achieve their sustainability goals, reduce carbon emissions and invest in clean, renewable energy while sharing the economic benefits of a large-scale, renewable energy resource. Adding clean energy resources also contributes to SRP’s 2035 goals to reduce carbon intensity by 65 percent in 2035 and by 90 percent in 2050 from 2005 levels.

East Line Solar is one of three new Arizona-based solar resources SRP announced it is adding as part of its Phase One and Phase Two Sustainable Energy Offering. Earlier this year, SRP announced a total of 33 companies signed up to receive approximately 300 MW of solar energy from these three new solar resources, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.6 million tons.

In addition to significantly reducing carbon intensity, SRP’s new 100 MW solar plants contribute to utility’s goal to add 1,000 MW of new utility-scale solar to its system by the end of fiscal year 2025.