The US added 2.93 GW of utility-scale solar capacity in 2013

A total of 266 utility-scale solar power plants with a combined capacity of 2,936 MW were connected to the grid in the US in 2013, compared to 357 plants totaling 2,056 MW in 2012. According to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) December Energy Infrastructure Update, 35 utility-scale solar power plants representing 79 MW of installed solar capacity were connected to the grid in December, down from 14 plants totaling 144 MW in November and 12 plants totaling 504 MW in October. According to revised figures, the US had 7.42 GW of installed utility-scale solar generating capacity as of the end of 2013. This amounted to 0.64% of total installed US operating generating capacity, up from 0.61% in November.
During the month of December, Sol Orchard completed the 20 MW Sol Orchard Imperial Solution project in Imperial County, California. Public Service Co. of New Mexico, meanwhile, completed the 7.5 MW Tularosa plant in Otero County, New Mexico, and Dominion Resource Inc. energized the 7.7 MW Azalea solar park in Washington County, Georgia. Eight projects ranging from 1 to 5.5 MW in size were completed in San Bernardino County, California, the largest of which was developed by utility Southern California Edison Co. © PHOTON