El Centro, California - CSOLAR IV South, LLC, owner of Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South near El Centro, has again awarded a total of $8,000 in college scholarships to Imperial County high school students.
This is the second year for the local scholarship program, which was announced following the start of commercial operation of Tenaska Imperial South in 2013. To date, 16 students have been awarded a total of $16,000 in scholarships.
This year, eight $1,000 scholarships were awarded to talented and community-minded students at the Imperial County public high schools that participated. A committee at Tenaska headquarters selected the promising college-bound seniors to receive the academic scholarships. Preference was given to students who demonstrate that they are prepared for college study, have good character and rank in the top 50 percent of their class.
“Education is the means to a brighter future for young people,” said Todd Jonas, Tenaska senior vice president of operations and asset management. “Our scholarship program reflects the value and priority we place on education at Tenaska, and we’re glad to award scholarships again this year to promising Imperial County students.”
Scholarship recipients at Brawley Union High School are Alan Casey, son of Matthew and Elizabeth Casey; and Graciela Favela, daughter of Alfonso Favela. Both are from Brawley.
Calipatria High School senior Anahi Ochoa, daughter of Tomas and Concepion Ochoa of Niland, received a scholarship.
At Holtville High School, scholarships went to Ashley Holt, daughter of Frank and Joy Holt, and Hugo Romero, son of Fidel and Maria Romero. Both are from Holtville.
Imperial High School’s Kurt Perreras, son of Aimee Perreras, of Imperial, received a scholarship.
The scholarship recipients at Southwest High School were Isaiah Aponte, son of Mosies and Erika Aponte; and Stephan Leon, son of Claudia and Fernando Leon-Garcia. Both are from El Centro.
The annual scholarship program managed by Omaha, Nebraska-based Tenaska has awarded more than $560,000 in scholarships nationwide. More than 700 students in communities where its facilities are located have benefited from the program since 2000.
Tenaska Imperial South is a 130-megawatt (MW) solar facility that can generate enough electricity to serve 44,000 California homes under a 25-year power purchase agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E). Over its operational life, Tenaska Imperial South is expected to pay millions of dollars in local sales taxes and contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to the area economy annually in salaries and local contracts and supplies.
Construction of Tenaska’s second Imperial Valley solar generating facility, Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West, also near El Centro, is underway. When complete, it will produce up to 150 MW of clean, renewable energy, enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 55,000 homes, under a 25-year power purchase agreement with SDG&E.
About CSOLAR IV South, LLC
Tenaska, an energy company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, formed CSOLAR IV South, LLC to build, own and maintain the Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South. Another affiliate serves as managing member.
