Clearway Energy Group has started construction on its Rosamond South I solar and storage project in Kern County, California. The 140-MW solar and 118-MW storage Rosamond South 1, which is referred to as Golden Fields Solar IV LLC by its offtakers, is under long-term contracts with several California load-serving entities, including 15-year agreements with MCE, The University of California, Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility, Eastside Power Authority and City of Moreno Valley.

“Kern County has long served as a critical provider of our country’s energy,” said Brooks Friedeman, Vice President of Capital Markets at Clearway. “We are pleased to invest in and help continue Kern County’s energy leadership through our Rosamond South solar and storage project, which will provide reliable and low-cost power when needed most.”

To finance the $550 million construction loan for the solar and storage projects, Clearway assembled a bank consortium consisting of Societe Generale, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited Siemens Financial Services, Commerzbank, CoBank, DNB Bank ASA, and Nord/LB.

More than 400 union labor jobs will be created during construction, which is being led by the EPC contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Labor partners included Laborers Union 220, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 12, IBEW Local 428, Ironworkers Local 416 and Local 433.

The project is expected to reach commercial operations in 2025.

News item from Clearway