Suntech Selected by Cupertino Electric for 35 MW of Solar Projects

Suntech Power Holdings Co., a producer of solar panels, announced it has supplied solar panels for two solar power plants in central California. Built and engineered by Cupertino Electric Inc.’s Energy Alternatives Division, the 20 MW and 15 MW projects, located in Helm and Five Points, Calif., respectively, feature more than 150,000 of Suntech’s multicrystalline solar panels for utility-scale electricity generation.

Construction of the two fast-track projects began in earnest in April 2011. The projects were designed and built by Cupertino Electric for  Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) under the utility’s five-year, 500 MW clean energy initiative. The PG&E program includes up to 250 MW of utility-owned solar generation.

“Suntech’s ability to deliver large volumes of high-quality solar panels, backed by meaningful guarantees, helped us to meet PG&E’s fast-paced schedule,” said Tim Jensen, project executive with Cupertino Electric. “Our successful delivery of this project to PG&E was made possible by the contributions of reliable subcontractors and suppliers like Suntech.”

“Solar is one of the fastest generation assets that you can build, as demonstrated by Cupertino Electric with these two well-designed and well-executed projects,” said Mick McDaniel, vice president of Utility Sales Division for Suntech America. “Although the economics will continue to improve, solar technology is ready today to provide cost-effective, large-scale solutions for electricity generation.”