CONSTRUCTION STARTS FOR FIRST
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY PARK
PRIDCO facilitates land acquisition for the project
Following an agreement approved between the Industrial Development Company of Puerto Rico (PRIDCO) and AES Light, LLC, next year Puerto Rico will initiate the first plant to generate large-scale solar energy. This will be the government’s cornerstone in energy diversification strategies, while improving the capacity of the island to promote investment and employment with the private sector. This was recently announced by secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Trade and PRIDCO CEO, Joseph R. Pérez-Riera. The project has already started construction and will be ready by mid 2012.
The official explained that PRIDCO facilitated the sale of the land located in the Jobos Industrial Park in Guayama. The project consists of approximately 100,000 solar panels to generate solar power, which will be distributed in its entirety through the Electric Power Authority (ESA). The capital investment is $98 million which was privately funded. The project will create approximately 200 jobs in its construction phase. In addition, it involves investment in machinery and equipment that exceeds $50 million.
"Our government welcomes this historic agreement, which will be one of the main engines for redirection of the economy of Puerto Rico through competitiveness, a reduction of energy costs through renewable energy generation, and the efficient use of federal incentives,” said Pérez-Riera. He also informed that this first project will benefit from ARRA federal incentives.
The AES plant will feature over 100 000 photovoltaic panels to generate solar energy for the ESA. Pérez-Riera said AES Light is the first company that will supply large-scale solar energy to the ESA project and is the largest solar energy company in the Caribbean and Latin America.
"The AES Project Light will be a world class aid to promote Puerto Rico as a leader in the field of photovoltaics. Our company is honored to be the pioneers in a segment that will offer new business opportunities to the island, ad help to promote economic development,” said Neil Watlington, AES project director Light LLC.
In addition to PRIDCO’s support of the project, it has the endorsement of the Energy Affairs Administration (SSA) of DDEC, which is responsible for formulating policy and regulations for the installation of renewable energy technologies.
The Solar Energy Park joins six other renewable energy projects (waste-to-energy, wind and solar) endorsed by the Government of Puerto Rico in the municipalities of Arecibo, Santa Isabel, Guayanilla, Salinas and Naguabo. The investment of these projects totals approximately $ 1.300 million, plus the creation of about 5.300 jobs in the construction phase and another 208 permanent jobs in the operational phase.
FOTO CAPTION
Left to right: Patricia Rollin, Managing Director AES Solar; Robert Herrphill, CEO AES Solar; Hon. Luis G. Fortuño, José R. Pérez-Riera, Economic & Business Development Secretary
About The Industrial Development Company
The Industrial Development Company is a public corporation dedicated to promoting Puerto Rico as an investment destination among companies and industries worldwide.Since 1950, Development led the transition from an agrarian to an industrial one.Development continues to drive the economy of Puerto Rico, focusing on the promotion of high technology industries among sectors of life sciences, information technology and services sector. This attraction of industries is possible due to the advantages of Puerto Rico, for tax incentives, a highly skilled workforce, adequate infrastructure and an attractive business climate.
About AES Solar
AES Solar is a leading global solar photovoltaic scale connected to electricity grids that supplies renewable energy to homes and businesses. The company owns and operates a growing number of solar photovoltaic projects in several European countries-Italy, Greece, Spain and France as well as projects under development in the United States, Bulgaria, India, among others. AES Solar has a broad portfolio of renewable energy projects around the world.
