SAN FRANCISCO and DENVER, Jan. 28,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- NRG Renew, a wholly owned
subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), and SunShare, one of
the country's first and fastest-growing community solar companies,
are partnering to finance and build 8.2 megawatts (MWac/10
MWdc) of community solar projects along the Front Range of
Colorado (including Colorado Springs and Denver), which is enough to power more than
1,600 homes for 20 years. This project will more than double NRG's
existing community solar portfolio.
Once completed and online in mid-2015, this will be one of the
largest operating community solar portfolios in the nation,
comprised of five ground-mount sites, four in Denver's bustling metropolitan area and one in
nearby Colorado Springs.
"Community solar projects broaden access to locally generated
solar energy and allow businesses and family residences with
financial or space restrictions to choose renewable energy," said
Craig Cornelius, Senior Vice
President of Business Development at NRG Renew. "Community solar is
a key part of the distributed, clean energy future NRG is committed
to fostering."
A primary component of NRG Renew's distributed generation
strategy includes developing and delivering clean, reliable energy
in an efficient manner that generates power closer to where it is
consumed. In addition to a number of community wind assets, NRG
also owns and operates the Community 1 solar facility in
Brawley, Calif., and a community
solar array in Rutland, Vt.
"Our partnership with NRG brings the promise of a bright future
for community solar, an exciting market that truly has the
potential to bring the choice of solar to every
American," said David
Amster-Olszewski, President and Founder of SunShare.
"Together, SunShare's innovation in community solar and NRG's
superb reputation for large-scale solar finance and industry
leadership will drive solar adoption to new heights. This
partnership strengthens our commitment to current and future
customers."
SunShare's first two .5 MWac community solar gardens in
Colorado Springs are the first
fully subscribed solar projects of their kind in the country. In
total, SunShare has more than 100 MWac of solar gardens built or
under development and has offices in Denver and Minneapolis, Minn.
The renewable electricity generated through this alliance will
be available to residential, municipal and commercial subscribers
spanning five counties, including schools, libraries and other
municipal buildings. Subscribers will enter into a 20-year Power
Purchase Agreement with SunShare and will earn credits toward their
energy bill.
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SOURCE SunShare