With Net Zero Energy Goal, Solar Leads the Charge
The renewable energy industry is spurring increased demand for solar power, for example, the 90.86 vacant acres zoned for a solar farm are to be built in Rio Linda 10 miles east of the Sacramento Airport.
RIO LINDA, CA—Due to the California Public Utilities Commission implementing the California Long-Term Energy-Efficiency Strategy Plan for new residential buildings to be net zero energy by 2020 and new commercial buildings to be net zero energy by 2030, demand for cost-effective and efficient renewable sources of energy will be an accelerating trend in the future. With California leading this renewable energy revolution, it will be a top growth industry spurring increased demand for solar power.
In many respects, Northern California is leading that charge. Most recently, escrow closed on 90.86 vacant and solar-ready acres located on West 6th Street in Rio Linda, south of West Elverta Road. The four Sacramento County parcels sold were approved by the county in 2010 for a 10 megawatt solar farm. The seller was Bernik Family Trust.
The new owner, San Francisco-based Lightsource BP, acquired the land for an undisclosed price. Formerly known as Lightsource Renewable Energy, it formed a partnership with BP at the end of 2017 in an effort to increase the capabilities of solar projects across the country. The newly formed company rebranded as Lightsource BP in early 2018. The independent power producer builds, owns and operates cost-effective clean energy projects for cooperatives, public and private utilities, and large corporate entities.
“The property was originally approved by the California Energy Commission in 1994 for an ethanol power plant but never came to fruition,” Bob Shanahan, senior research analyst with Colliers International, tells GlobeSt.com. “The land was tied up several times by solar farm developers but none ever consummated power agreements with PG&E, SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) or Western States. With Lightsource BP securing an agreement with SMUD, it then closed on the land. The construction timeline has not been released yet, but Lightsource has been very active in building new solar plants in the US since BP acquired a 43% stake in the company earlier this year.”
Indeed, no plans have been submitted to Sacramento County for the new solar plant but on November 7, Lightsource announced a collaboration with SMUD and the future development of Wildflower Solar I. Wildflower Solar is a roughly 16 MWdc solar plant which will support SMUD’s community solar program, SolarShares.
The property is located north of West Elkhorn Boulevard about 10 miles east of the Sacramento International Airport and minutes to the Interstate 5-Highway 99 interchange north of downtown Sacramento. The site is also adjacent to rail.
Jim Dennis of Colliers Sacramento brokered the sale on behalf of the seller.
“The acquisition by Lightsource BP fits their needs in the immediate future, allowing them to expand into SMUD’s territory serving a demand for solar power,” Dennis says. “My only regret is the property sold with the original owner having passed away, but his heirs saw his vision come to a nice conclusion.”
Earlier this year, Lightsource BP announced it will build the largest solar farm in Kansas for the Mid-Kansas Electric Company.