Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated Abengoa Solar on the finalization of its $1.45 billion guaranteed loan from the Department of Energy to build what will be the world’s largest solar plant near Gila Bend, Ariz. The projected 250-megawatt Solana plant is expected to create approximately 1,700 construction jobs and more than 60 permanent jobs when the facility is complete.

The guaranteed loan comes through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as part of a 16-project, $16.5 billion national effort to support clean energy projects. Solana will serve about 70,000 households, and the projects together are expected to power more than 3.3 million homes.

“This is a huge step forward for Southern Arizona both economically and environmentally,” Grijalva said. “Solar power and other clean energy projects are going to be a major building block for this state and the entire nation in the years ahead. To get this great head start on one of those building blocks is going to benefit Arizona for decades.”

Abengoa general manager Emiliano Garcia thanked Grijalva after the announcement, saying, “Throughout this process, Rep. Grijalva has been a strong advocate for the Solana solar project and we greatly appreciate his commitment and support.”

To accommodate the project’s need for over 900,000 mirrors, a mirror manufacturing facility will be built outside Phoenix that is expected to create additional direct investment in the state economy. U.S. providers and manufacturers will supply 70 percent of Solana’s components, including mirrors, receiver tubes and heat transfer fluid. Electricity from the project will be sold through a long-term power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service Company.

For more information, please visit http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov or call Abengoa Solar at (480) 705-0028.