Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Park

Project Overview

The Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project is a 250 megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) solar project located on approximately 2,000 acres on the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, Nevada. Moapa Southern Paiute Solar, LLC (a subsidiary of First Solar Electric, LLC) is the project owner and constructed the project using First Solar’s advanced photovoltaic (PV) thin film solar modules.

The project generates enough clean solar energy to serve the needs of about 111,000 homes per year, displacing approximately 341,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually—the equivalent of taking about 73,000 cars off the road. The Project includes an onsite substation and a new 5.5 mile 500 kV transmission line that connecting the Project to the existing Crystal Substation serving energy users in California. Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project has a Power Purchase Agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to deliver clean, solar energy for 25 years.

Project Benefits

• Generates millions in income for the Moapa Band of Paiutes from lease payments, consulting fees, and the purchase of goods and services
• Generated wages and benefits for approximately 600 construction jobs on average and up to five ongoing operation and maintenance positions
• Increases state and local tax revenues
• Provide educational donations for the Tribe
• Indirectly benefits dozens of businesses in Clark County

Community Commitment

First Solar is committed to being a good neighbor through our community involvement and through the environmentally sensitive design of our solar projects. We will continue to engage the Tribe, as well as neighbors, community groups, environmental groups, and business organizations to ensure that the Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project remains a valued and respected business in Clark County.

The Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project will generate millions in income for the Tribe, state and local tax revenues, provide wages from up to 600 construction jobs and up to 5 ongoing monitoring and operations positions, and create benefits for many local businesses. First Solar will seek to provide employment opportunities for qualified members of the Tribe and local residents.

In addition, the Tribe will benefit from revenue from lease payments, consulting fees and the purchase of local materials resulting in millions of dollars to the Tribe. Additionally, under the Environmental Impact Statement and Biological Opinion rendered in connection with United States Fish & Wildlife Service, First Solar has provided the Tribe, together with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, with more than $1.6 million in mitigation fees for desert tortoise protection.

First Solar projects have a low resource impact. When in operation, our systems generate electricity with no water use, no air emissions, and no waste production, and have the smallest carbon footprint of any PV technology. Mounted to metal racks, the PV panels should be no higher than thirteen feet above ground.