Google, KKR Plan To Invest $189M in US Solar Projects

Google, KKR plan to invest $189M in US solar projects Google Inc. and KKR Co. LP are planning to invest a combined $189 million in U.S. solar facilities. Google intends to invest $94 million in four California solar farms under construction near Sacramento. The search engine giant has agreed to buy a majority stake in the Sacramento solar facilities from Sharp Corp subsidiary Recurrent Energy. The facilities will have 88 MW of generation capacity. KKR plans to invest $95 million in U.S.solar facilities, including the Sacramento facilities and other projects. The company has established a new venture, SunTap, to make investment in solar power projects, including the Sacramento solar farms. DOE approves Iberdrola Renewables? Tule Wind farm The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued its final approval of the 200-MW Tule wind power project in Eastern San Diego County, California. The wind project, which is being developed by Iberdrola Renewables, is located within four jurisdictions and will need additional approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, California State Lands Commission and County of San Diego. The wind project will produce enough clean energy for about 60,000 San Diego-area homes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 230,000 tons and reduce water use by 149 million gallons per year by displacing gas-fired generation. REC to supply 60MW modules for solar projects in France and Germany REC has been selected to supply 60MW modules for solar power plant installations in France and Germany. Under an agreement, REC will supply its Peak Energy Series Modules modules for free field solar power plants managed by the project developer GP JOULE. The modules will be installed on a 20-MW free field installation in Germany and on one 40-MW installation near Bordeaux, France. The first delivery will take place already in December and the rest over the next six months, the company said. EverPower acquires 30-MW wind farm from OwnEnergy Terra Firma subsidiary EverPower Wind Holdings Inc. and OwnEnergy have closed a transaction where EverPower will acquire and construct Patton Wind Farm LLC. The 30-MW wind farm is located in Elder, West Carroll and East Carroll Townships across about 2,700 acres of agriculture land. The wind farm is expected to be operational by the end of 2012. The project has an interconnection agreement with PJM.