July13,2106-
Solar Keeps On Shining In Kings County
Home owners, small businesses, farmers and large utility-size developers continue to invest in new solar projects in sunny Kings County.
The latest evidence are new filings with the county planning department for more utility-scale solar permits in the county. Sunpower has filed a new application says planner Sandy Roper for a 15MW solar farm along Highway 41 at Java Ave near Lemoore. It’s called Java Solar. The proposal is expected to be heard by the county planning commission September 12. Also a new project called Trafalgar Solar LLC, submitted by consultant Quad Knopf is a 20 MW,182-acre complex on 25th,south of Utica. Roper says this application is not finalized to set up a hearing.
Nearby the proposed Java Solar – the much larger Henrietta Solar farm is under construction starting in May and as of a few days ago has a new owner. Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power and SunPower Corp. announced that Southern Power has acquired a controlling interest in the 670 acre, 102-megawatt Henrietta Solar Project from SunPower, which will own the remaining interest.This is the first acquisition for Southern Power in Kings County. Existing Southern Power customer Pacific Gas and Electric Company will purchase the electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the facility under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider meeting the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and other energy customers with major projects primarily in the South.
Deployment of utility-scale solar began in Kings County in 2010 with construction of the Avenal solar projects, at the time the largest system in the state at 57MW. Now something like dozen or more large scale solar projects are built,under construction or expected to be built in a year or two here. That includes a 150MW solar farm on Navy land at NAS Lemoore.
On the residential front home owners have increased the pace of rooftop solar deployment here in 2016 permitting 557 units in the county as of midyear compared to 438 projects during the same period in 2015. Larger commercial solar projects permitted in the county so far this year number 9 valued at $22.9 million.That’s more than double the value last year with 10 projects valued at $10 milion.
Among new commercial solar projects are a number at local dairies. Just announced at the Wreden Ranch Dairy in Hanford were contracts to Sunvalley Solar Inc. of Walnut to install two separate 1.1-megawatt solar systems.The system utilizes 6,920 high efficiency 320-watt poly-crystalline solar panels. The total cost is over $4 million. Construction will start soon. In 2015, three major milk cow operations in Kings County deployed large solar-panel systems, including Medeiros and Son Dairy in Hanford. “We’re extremely focused on improving efficiencies across the entire farm” said owner Brian Medeiros. Pioneering solar deployment here was Mike Monteiro and brother Manuel who operate Lakeside Dairy south of Hanford and installed an 891-kilowatt solar-power system in 2011.
Shuttered Corcoran Hospital To Seek Buyer, Plans November Ballot Measure
Shut down since October 2013 the old 32-bed Corcoran District Hospital is for sale and its board is seeking voter approval to to sell off its remaining assets.That will require approval of voter this November. “We believe Adventist Health is interested but we have received no formal offer” says chair of the board Mike Graville. Adventist currently runs a rural health clinic in part of the old hospital building.Asked about this Adventist spokesperson Amanda Jaurigu said” Corcoran is an important community to us. Since we’ve leased the building, we’ve expanded specialty services and hours. We’re open late on weekdays and on Saturdays. We are interested in purchasing the building to continue expanding clinic and diagnostic services to the community.”
Gravell will hold a public meeting at Corcoran city hall at 5:30 P.M., on Wednesday, July 20. Graville is under no illusion the structure could attract a new hospital .”We do not think the building could house a hospital again but we need a formal appraisal to make a sale.”The vote this November would require 50% plus one vote.”There is no more equipment in the old building. Gravell says he hopes a sale could at least pay off the district’s debt of around $1.5 million, Meanwhile Corcoran residents have two clinic operators in Adventist Health and United Health.