The Pasadena, California, City Council recently approved plans for 50 megawatts of solar power from Grace Orchard Solar III, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.
The Grace Orchard Solar III project is a 170 MW solar photovoltaic generating facility, located near Blythe, California.
The 20-year contract, scheduled to begin delivering energy by 2028, was negotiated by the City of Pasadena, Water and Power Department, along with the cities of Anaheim and Colton, and procured through the Southern California Public Power Authority, a joint powers authority helping its participating members (including PWP) reduce their overall costs.
The Grace Orchard Solar III project marks another measure of progress toward achieving the goals set by the Pasadena City Council through Resolution 9977, which aims to source 100% of Pasadena’s electricity from carbon-free sources by the end of 2030.
Earlier this year, the City of Pasadena approved contracts for over 120 MW and a utility-scale battery storage system. The Grace Orchard Solar III project also provides replacement energy for existing energy facility contracts that are terminating in 2027.
“The Grace Orchard Solar III project is another exciting addition to our growing energy portfolio,” said PWP Interim General Manager David Reyes. “Together with the Pasadena City Council and the local community, we will be leaders in the clean energy transition.”
PWP provides electricity to more than 65,000 customers within Pasadena. PWP delivers water to nearly 38,000 households and businesses in Pasadena and adjacent communities in the San Gabriel Valley.
