San Antonio, Texas-based public power utility CPS Energy has reached an agreement with Kenlov Ashtrom Renewable Energy LLC for the purchase of 180 megawatts (MW) of solar energy.
The project, developed and originated by Kenlov Ashtrom Renewable Energy’s U.S. development partner, OnPeak Power, will provide CPS Energy with 180 MW of the full 305 MW from the Tierra Bonita solar farm once completed. Tierra Bonita will be located in West Texas in Pecos County.
The agreement is a 20-year contract with construction anticipated to begin next year.
As the second agreement tied to CPS Energy’s “FlexPOWER Bundle” initiative, the contract is part of the utility’s goal to add up to 900 MW of solar energy to its power generation mix.
The agreement for the first 300 MW was signed earlier this year with Consolidated Edison Development, Inc.
The FlexPOWER Bundle initiative aims to further diversify CPS Energy’s power generation mix, adding up to 900 MW of solar, up to 50 MW of energy storage and up to 500 MW of firming capacity. The bundle is part of the utility’s wider plan to replace older generation with newer and cleaner technologies.
Launched in November 2020, a request for proposals for the FlexPOWER Bundle resulted in over 650 proposals from 100 companies across the U.S. and ten other nations, including Japan, England and South Korea. CPS Energy expects to finalize and award additional FlexPOWER Bundle contracts within the next few months.
In addition to the capacity replaced by FlexPOWER Bundle, the utility is also working towards replacing other aging units. The discussion surrounding future power generation is taking place through the utility’s Rate Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings. More information on the process can be found on the RAC website.
