Example of the type of solar farm planned for the tailings at BHP-San Manuel./CopperArea.com photo

Plans are in the works for the construction of a photovoltaic solar power facility with battery storage and an associated generation line. The facility will be built on BHP’s reclaimed mine site (tailings) east of San Manuel. The reclaimed tailing storage is owned by BHP and will be leased long term to Pattern Development. A generation interconnecting line from the proposed solar and battery facility to the adjacent San Manuel Substation is planned.

Pattern Development is the privately held affiliate of Pattern Energy Group, Inc. They are North America’s largest independent U.S. based renewable energy generator. Using both wind and solar energy, they own and operate renewable energy facilities in Canada, Japan and the United States.

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