APS Adds to Solar Leadership in Arizona

Expects 2013 to Eclipse a Record-Breaking 2012

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)– An APS filing at the Arizona Corporation Commission underscores the company’s essential role in making Arizona one of the top solar energy markets in the nation.

Governor Jan Brewer announced last month that according to the 2012 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Arizona now ranks second nationally for solar installations, and the state topped the list with the most utility-scale solar technology installed.

APS, in 2012, added 148 megawatts (MW), a single-year record for the company and enough electricity to serve more than 35,000 customers. In 2013, APS expects to more than double this number.

Last year’s projects came from a variety of sources, including:

• AZ Sun (24 MW) – SunEdison completed construction on the 19-MW Chino Valley Solar Plant and the final 5 MW of the Hyder I Solar Plant- which are owned and operated by APS as part of the AZ Sun program.
• Power purchase agreements (15 MW) – APS signed a long-term agreement to purchase 15 MW from another SunEdison facility, the Saddle Mountain Solar Power Plant.
• Customer-owned solar (83 MW) – Most of the solar added in 2012 came from customers installing systems on their homes and businesses. More than 7,500 did so last year, compared with fewer than 6,000 total installations in 2011.

“APS will have more than 600 MW of solar on the system by the end of 2013, generating enough electricity to serve 150,000 customers,” said Don Brandt, APS Chairman and CEO. “This puts us well on pace to meet the Arizona Renewable Energy Standard, which calls for APS to get 15 percent of our power from renewable sources by 2025.”

Brandt noted that the company’s investment in solar is helping to stimulate the competitive solar industry in Arizona. “By 2015, 83 percent of the company’s renewable energy portfolio will be third-party owned. But more importantly, 100 percent of APS solar facilities are …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance