Bechtel Completes Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Solar Power Project

FREDERICK, Md. — Bechtel recently announced that the company has completed construction of the Catalina Solar Photovoltaic Generating Facility. The company designed the 110-megawatt alternating-current solar plant located in Southern California's Kern County. The facility will produce enough clean energy to power some 35,000 homes.

“Catalina Solar is a strategic project for EDF Renewable Energy as it represents our largest utility-scale photovoltaic solar plant developed in North America,” commented Mark Tholke, vice president, West Region for EDF Renewable Energy. “The project has been an important source of direct and indirect economic activity in Kern County, including over 500 workers onsite during construction. We are pleased to mark the end of construction and commence operation.”

Catalina Solar is one of the world's largest photovoltaic facilities. It was built on 900 acres and includes a 7.2-mile transmission line that connects the facility to the substation.

“The successful completion of this project on behalf of EDF Renewable Energy will help make solar more cost competitive with other sources of energy,” said Toby Seay, president of Bechtel's communications, renewables and transmission business line. “The build of facilities like Catalina will help spur innovation around solar technologies and strengthen our use of clean, renewable power.”

In addition Bechtel's work on the Catalina Solar project, the company is building two other solar facilities in California: the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Facility, which will be the world's largest concentrating solar thermal power facility when complete, and the California Valley Solar Ranch, one of the world's largest photovoltaic facilities currently under construction.