New Solar Power Plants Generate 4 Million Watts -Adding More

Southern California Edison (SCE) today announced that a solar power plant it has constructed on top of a 436,000-square-foot facility in Rialto, Calif. owned by an affiliate of AMB Property Corporation is now online and providing clean generation to Inland Empire customers.

Power from the 16,300 advanced solar panels installed on the Rialto warehouse is connected directly to the utility’s nearest neighborhood circuit and benefits all customers.

“This project is part of Southern California Edison’s ongoing capital investment in clean generation and smart grid technologies to meet our customers’ future energy needs,” said Alan Fohrer, the utility’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Completing this project with Southern California Edison has allowed us to maximize benefits and minimize exposure by working with an experienced utility that shares our commitment to renewable energy in one of AMB's core markets,” said Aaron Binkley, AMB's director of Sustainability. “This project will become a model for future solar opportunities that allow AMB to benefit our shareholders and the environment.”

The utility completed similar installations in Fontana and Chino during the past two years. The three solar plants have a combined peak generating capacity of 4 million watts or enough power to serve 2,600 average homes. Ten additional solar plants will be constructed in the Ontario area and are expected online by the end of the year. These thirteen Inland Empire solar installations are creating approximately 500 temporary construction jobs.

During the next four years, Southern California Edison plans to install a total of 250 million watts of solar generation at up to 100 Southern and Central California sites. The utility also plans to sign power purchase agreements with independent producers for an equal amount of solar generation. The entire solar program is expected to create the equivalent of approximately 1,200 full time jobs per year.

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