Chicago-based renewable energy supplier Hecate Vitality has chosen Reston, Virginia, building large Bechtel to construct Sunfish Photo voltaic 2, the primary undertaking in Hecate’s 1-gigawatt growth in Calhoun County, Michigan, in line with a Sept. 11 information launch from the agency.
Shoppers Vitality, a residential energy firm working with Hecate on the undertaking, estimates the full put in capital price of the Sunfish Photo voltaic 2 is $453 million, per a doc filed with the state of Michigan. The undertaking will likely be constructed on 1,300 acres, in line with the discharge.
When accomplished in 2026, Sunfish Photo voltaic 2 will likely be one of many largest photo voltaic amenities within the state, in line with the discharge. It’ll generate sufficient power to energy about 183,500 Michigan houses, and offset practically 1.5-million tons of carbon dioxide emissions yearly — the equal of eradicating greater than 300,000 passenger autos from the highway every year.
The announcement adopted the high-profile presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Sept. 10, the place Trump stated that he was “an enormous fan of photo voltaic,” but additionally asserted the quantity of land photo voltaic farms use was a downside.
Photo voltaic and clear power shares rose following the talk. In accordance with CNBC, traders have been nervous that Trump would weaken or repeal the Inflation Discount Act — which incentivizes photo voltaic funding — if Republicans sweep the White Home and Congress, whereas a Harris administration is anticipated to depart the legislation largely unchanged.
Bechtel claims Sunfish Photo voltaic 2 will play a vital function in supporting Michigan’s dedication to producing half of its power from renewable sources by 2030. Photo voltaic is rising throughout the nation: Within the first quarter 2024, U.S. photo voltaic installations grew 79% yr over yr, to a document 11.8 gigawatts, in line with Reuters.