San Antonio based CPS Energy and OCI Solar Power are launching the largest municipally owned mega solar project in San Antonio, that will provide over 800 jobs in the renewable energy field.

The two companies signed a deal Monday that will result in the construction of 400 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, and will bring several manufacturing facilities that produce solar panel components to San Antonio.

"No one's ever brought this much clean technology by way of solar and tied it to an economic development package that works very well for our community," said Doyle Beneby, CPS Energy President and CEO.

The project is predicted to have an economic impact of $700 million annually for the city, and will provide enough electricity to power close to 70,000 local households.

"This has incredible opportunities besides providing clean affordable power. In addition to providing a solid base for clean technology jobs, this will also bring the kind of intellectual capital in the clean technology field to San Antonio that I think we really want here," said Beneby.

The project came about as part of the city's S.A. 2020 initiative to bring high paying, highly skilled jobs back to the city.

"These are going to be very good paying jobs; engineering and technical jobs that are going to strengthen the relationship between industry and our university and community colleges to provide a well trained work force in the new energy economy," said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro.

The project is the first manufacturing-to-generation contract, and is the largest in the nation among municipal utilities. It is expected to place Texas in the top five of solar producing states in the U.S.

By: Marissa A. Wagner