First Solar sells Moapa Southern Paiute solar plant to Capital Dynamics

First Solar, Inc. has announced it has completed the sale of the cash equity interests in the 250 MW_AC Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project in Nevada to global private asset manager Capital Dynamics.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Minority tax equity interests in the project are shared by GE unit GE Energy Financial Services, and an affiliate of the Goldman Sachs Group.

Located on the Moapa River Indian Reservation approximately 30 miles north of Las Vegas, this facility is the first-ever utility-scale solar power plant to be built on tribal land, and has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with LADWP to bring clean, renewable energy to Los Angeles residents. The solar power plant is capable of generating enough clean energy to power approximately 111,000 homes.

Georges Antoun, First Solar’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“This has been an exciting project to develop and build. Our technology is driving down the cost of solar electricity and enabling power providers to include competitive, reliable renewable energy in their portfolios. We are proud to transfer ownership of this power generation asset to Capital Dynamics.”

John Breckenridge, Capital Dynamics’ Head of Clean Energy and Infrastructure, said: 

“The Moapa project is an important step in the Clean Energy and Infrastructure strategy of Capital Dynamics. We continue to be long-term owners of high quality power generation assets in North America and Europe. We are particularly pleased that with Moapa, we expand our strong relationship with First Solar.”

First Solar Energy Services will operate and maintain the power plant for Capital Dynamics. By using renewable energy from the sun, the Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project will avoid approximately 341,000 metric tons per year of carbon dioxide emissions that would have been produced if the electricity had been generated using fossil fuels - the equivalent of taking nearly 73,000 cars off the road. First Solar’s technology creates no air or water pollution and uses no water to generate electricity.