ConEdison Development joins CPS Energy to dedicate Alamo 5

UVALDE, TX – APRIL 12, 2016:  ConEdison Development (CED), one of America’s largest owners and operators of renewable energy infrastructure projects, today dedicated Alamo 5, a 118-MW DC/95-MW AC, dual-axis solar installation in Uvalde and Knippa, Texas that will deliver clean energy to CPS Energy of San Antonio.  CPS Energy is the country’s largest municipally-owned natural gas and electric company.

The 378,000-panel, 990-acre site – the largest operating dual-axis solar plant in North America – is capable of providing 95 MW (AC) of renewable power to CPS Energy.  The capacity is enough to serve approximately 15,000 households annually.  Alamo 5 is situated approximately 85 miles west of San Antonio.

“CPS Energy has emerged as a national pacesetter in the world of renewable energy, and our company is proud to play a strategic role in helping them fulfill their vision to Greater San Antonio,” said Mark Noyes, president and CEO of ConEdison Development.  “CPS Energy also deserves praise for ensuring that their clean energy initiative yields major local and statewide economic development benefits for Texans.”

“We are the solar leader in Texas with 230 megawatts in the ground, and that will more than double to 500 megawatts by year’s end,” said Cris Eugster, CPS Energy’s executive vice president and chief generation and strategy officer.  “The dedication of Alamo 5 represents a significant milestone in our commitment to generate at least 65 percent of our energy from low- or no-carbon resources by 2020.”

Because of its dual-axis trackers, Alamo 5 generates power with high efficiency.  Such trackers allow for optimum solar energy output because of their ability to follow the sun both vertically and horizontally.  The dual-axis trackers, which utilize a patented “solar-sensing” technology to capture maximum solar resource, were produced by Sun Action Trackers, a San Antonio-based manufacturer of solar tracking and racking systems.

The Uvalde installation is one of a total of five Alamo solar facilities presently serving CPS Energy.  ConEdison Development – which now ranks as America’s sixth-largest owner of renewable power infrastructure assets – has played a development, ownership or operating role in three of the completed projects.  San Antonio-based OCI Solar Power is the contracted developer of a total of 10 projects, delivering 450 MW overall to CPS Energy.  All of the installations will be complete by the end of 2016.

Alamo 5 helps fulfill the commitments of CPS Energy’s ambitious New Energy Economy initiative.  As of the start of this year, the initiative’s impact includes: the creation of more than 950 jobs, $57 million in payroll, and an annual economic benefit of $1.6 billion.  The New Energy Economy maximizes the local economic development benefits generated by strategic investments in clean energy and innovative technologies like solar power, LED lighting, and smart grid infrastructure.

As an example of progress made under the initiative, the following San Antonio-based New Energy Economy partners manufactured some of the major components for Alamo 5:

• Mission Solar Energy – the first and only U.S. manufacturer of N-type solar cells and modules – solar photovoltaic (PV) modules
• Sun Action Trackers, dual-axis trackers
• KACO new energy, inverters which transform direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). AC power is what CPS Energy is contracted to purchase from the installation.

OCI Solar Power is the parent company of Mission Solar Energy and Sun Action Trackers.  All three companies along with KACO new energy opened facilities in San Antonio as a result of CPS Energy’s power purchase agreement with OCI Solar Power.  A fourth New Energy Economy partner, Mortenson Construction, built the 990-acre solar farm.

About ConEdison Development

ConEdison Development (CED) develops, owns and operates renewable and energy infrastructure projects.  The company is one of the largest owners and operators of solar projects in North America.

CED is focusing on renewable energy and gas assets as part of an overall corporate goal of responsible environmental stewardship.  Through its deep resources and trusted relationships with a range of energy-related companies, CED has successfully developed, and owns and operates facilities generating more than 950 MW DC/750 MW AC of renewable power across California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Nebraska, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

ConEdison Development is one of the competitive energy businesses of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], the nation’s oldest and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $45 billion in assets.  More information can be obtained by calling 914- 993-2185.  You can also visit the Consolidated Edison, Inc. website at www.conedison.com.

About CPS Energy

CPS Energy is the nation’s largest municipally owned natural gas and electric company, providing safe and affordable service to 786,000 electric and 339,000 natural gas customers in the Greater San Antonio area. With our AA+ credit rating, one of the best in the industry, we offer best in class reliability and some of the lowest rates among the top 10 largest U.S. cities. We recognize our role as a community partner and are continuously focused on job creation, economic development and educational investment. Powered by our people, our investment in the community is demonstrated through our employees’ generosity in giving $1.1 million to United Way. We are also committed to investing in clean energy. CPS Energy is number one in Texas for solar generation and among the top wind energy buyers in the nation for municipally owned utilities. For more information, visit newsroomp.cpsenergy.com.

Media Contacts:    

CPS Energy, (210) 353-4822

For ConEdison Development

Christine Nevin, ConEdison Development, (914) 286-7094, [email protected]          Cara Gentile, Marino, (212) 889-9867, [email protected]