Solar Farm

The project is underway...Borrego 1 Solar Project. If you have wondered about the giant piles of ground and chopped wood, they are a part of the ground clearing that will result in Borrego's first solar farm. This electric generating facility is located on approximately 308 acres of flat fallowed land south of Henderson Canyon Rd. and east of Borrego Valley Rd. The fields involved contain little native vegetation, rather dry Saharan mustard.( good riddance )

The project, under taken by NRG Solar, when completed, will generate enough energy to power 20,800 homes. The non-reflective modules convert sunlight into DC electricity, which will flow into an inverter which will output AC electricity. The current will then flow to a transformer which will increase voltage then move to a substation where it will be increased to 69 kV...and, finally, move into the present substation switchyard on Borrego Valley Road.

On-site personnel will be present during the complete construction project. Tilting non-reflective panels will average six feet in height. Shaded units up to ten feet in height will protect and contain the inverters and transformers. An average of 140 workers will be on-site during construction. Security systems will protect the project when completed. The field will not be lit at night and all other lighting systems have adhered to our dark sky concepts. The existing substation will be expanded to approximately 1 acre in size.

Sources: Borrego 1 Solar Project and NRG Borrego Solar Project Fact Sheet