Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva will tour the Agua Caliente solar facility near Dateland, Ariz., on March 14 to congratulate site managers on being named Solar Project of the Year by Renewable Energy World, a leading industry magazine, and PV Project of the Year at Solar Power Generation USA, an industry solar power conference. The event will be open to the press.

The Agua Caliente project, being built by First Solar and owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican Renewables, will be the largest solar photovoltaic project in the world when completed in 2014, producing a projected 290 megawatts. The project has received a $967 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy and has already helped to create approximately 400 construction jobs.

“Public-private partnerships like this are going to be one of the keys to a strong economic recovery, and I’m proud to have a chance to congratulate First Solar and its team in person,” Grijalva said. “This is about building a solid, long-lasting and environmentally responsible foundation for Arizona’s economic future. Agua Caliente deserves every accolade it’s received, and I’m happy to add my voice to the many others who welcome this project to Southern Arizona.”

“First Solar is proud to be bringing Agua Caliente’s economic, energy, and environmental benefits to Arizona and the United States,” said Frank De Rosa, First Solar Senior Vice President for Business Development, the Americas. “The project connected its first 30 megawatt phase in January and is already sending clean, affordable energy to the power grid.”

If You Go

What: Rep. Grijalva site tour, safety briefing and remarks

When: March 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Agua Caliente solar plant at 67500 E. Palomas Rd. in Dateland