SOLON Completes Five MW Prairie Fire Solar Plant

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SOLON Corporation, one of the largest providers of turnkey solar power plants in the United States, today announced the completion of the 5 megawatt (MW) Prairie Fire Solar Plant in Tucson, Arizona, for Tucson Electric Power (TEP).

“We proudly work with companies like SOLON, as well as public and educational partners, to help make Southern Arizona a leader in the development of solar projects that are cost-effective and environmentally sensitive.”

The fixed-tilt system was designed and constructed by SOLON. TEP will own and operate the solar production facility. The 5 MW system spans 28 acres and is composed of more than 17,000 solar panels. The construction of the system, located near East Valencia and East Old Vail roads, took just 10 weeks and created the equivalent of 75 full-time local jobs.

“Prairie Fire is another shining example of the stellar project execution of our power plants team and the intrinsic value of solar energy,” said Jared Schoch, Vice President and General Manager of Power Plants at SOLON Corporation. “We commend TEP’s commitment to making affordable solar energy ubiquitous in Arizona and are excited to be a partner in these efforts.”

Over the course of a year, the Prairie Fire array is expected to produce approximately 9,000 megawatt hours (MWh), enough to power more than 850 homes.

“The Prairie Fire system is the third utility-scale solar array developed for us in Tucson by SOLON,” said David Hutchens, President of TEP and its parent company UNS Energy (NYSE: UNS). “We proudly work with companies like SOLON, as well as public and educational partners, to help make Southern Arizona a leader in the development of solar projects that are cost-effective and environmentally sensitive.”

By the end of 2013, TEP expects to have more than 250 MW of renewable generating capacity, enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 50,000 homes.

With the activation of Prairie Fire, SOLON now has nearly 65 MW of solar resources installed and operating just in the state of Arizona.

About SOLON Corporation:

SOLON Corporation (www.SOLON.com) is a leading provider of utility-scale and large commercial photovoltaic (PV) system solutions to the North American market. SOLON delivers complete and cost-effective turnkey PV systems to its partners with a streamlined approach from project development, design and construction to financing and operation. With NA headquarters in Tucson, AZ and offices in Phoenix and San Francisco, SOLON is driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to providing superior solar solutions with unrivalled quality and reliability. Founded in 2007, SOLON Corporation is a subsidiary of the SOLON Group, a leading international provider of solar solutions for residential, commercial and utility-scale applications. The SOLON Group, one of oldest pure play solar companies in operation, was established in 1996 and operates subsidiaries in Germany, Italy and the U.S. with more than 600 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.SOLON.com.

About Tucson Electric Power:

TEP is a national leader in the testing, evaluation and deployment of renewable energy. The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) recognized TEP as the 2012 Investor Owned Utility (IOU) of the Year. TEP provides safe, reliable service to more than 405,000 customers in southern Arizona. To learn more about TEP’s solar energy programs, visit tep.com. For more information about TEP’s parent company, UNS Energy (NYSE: UNS), visit uns.com.