1. ISSUE 14
January 2015
Topaz Solar Farms
First Solar is proud to have had the opportunity to bring clean affordable
renewable energy to the region, and grateful for the support and generosity
of the local communities located near the Topaz Solar Farms project. From
early development stages to final phases of construction, we’ve deeply
appreciated the support and spirit of cooperation from the residents of the
Carrisa Plains and businesses of San Luis Obispo County.
— Georges Antoun, Chief Operations Officer, First Solar
First Solar Construction Complete at Topaz!
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Construction of Topaz Solar Farms, a 550-megawatt photovoltaic solar electrical facility located on state
Route 58, east of Bitterwater Road, began in November 2011. First Solar’s construction of the plant is now complete.
First Solar is conducting operations and maintenance for Topaz Solar Farms’ owner, BHE Renewables. First
Solar’s specially trained operations staff led by Nicholas Park, supervises the ongoing operation, tracks
performance, detects and diagnoses issues, and schedules and manages on-site maintenance activities.

2. Wallace Group
San Luis Obispo based Wallace Group has played an
enormous role at Topaz. Starting in 2009, they provided
project entitlement, design and compliance direction.
The experts at the Wallace Group processed over 80
separate construction permits, designed the array fields,
construction yards, access roads, highway and local road
connections, fire suppressing systems and erosion
control. They created the Traffic Control and Management
Plan working under two Caltrans Districts, as well as
the vast project compliance program which included
over two thousand documents ensuring accuracy on all
project reporting. First Solar is honored to have engaged
such a world class company. Thank you Wallace Group
for helping to make Topaz a success!
The Wallace Group
Althouse and Meade
Althouse and Meade has been an indispensable partner
in providing conservation planning and monitoring for
the entire 4,700 acres that make up Topaz Solar Farms.
They provided outstanding environmental consulting
services using their deep knowledge of ecology and botany,
helped protect and restore environmental resources,
monitored species-specific habitat quality and quantity,
while maintaining project progress.
Their team of environmental professionals, lead by
LynneDee Althouse, M.S., Daniel E. Meade, Ph.D., and
Patrick Mock, Ph.D. provided the highest level of biological
expertise giving First Solar confidence in maintaining the
preservation of the valuable and complex ecosystem of
the Carrizo Plain. Great work Althouse and Meade team!
Moving California Forward
Traffic Notification
Traffic levels have returned to normal status. First Solar
extends a very special thank you to all residents and
businesses along the various routes. First Solar sends
big kudos to our transportation partners RideOn
Transportation and American Star Trailways. American
Star’s professional bus drivers handled the responsibility
of safely transporting hundreds of workers day and night
on the long and winding roads to the Carrisa Plains. “On The Road Again...” American Star Trailways Coaches
picking up workers in Santa Margarita.
Various species monitored by Althouse and Meade at
Topaz Solar Farms
Initiated by California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard,
Topaz Solar Farms inspired people as they aligned
around a common vision. Topaz is a unique solar project
generating 550 megawatts of clean solar energy while
sheep graze all within a protected habit for San Joaquin
Kit Fox and other species. First Solar acknowledges the
San Luis Obispo County Planning and Building
Department, Planning Commission and Board of
Supervisors; the involvement of seventeen agencies,
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and
many other organizations, companies and individuals for
their support and outstanding contribution.
Left:
Topaz Solar Farms,
groundbreaking
celebration, May 2012
Bottom:
I.B.E.W. Local Union 639,
San Luis Obispo

3. Tim Crowe, Sean Hale
“Special thanks goes out to Tim Crowe, Site Safety Manager and all the site
Safety and Environmental professionals that supported the Topaz project
over the entirety of its construction. First Solar’s goal is to have every worker
go home to his or her family at the end of the day in the same condition as
they arrived … “injury free.” Safety is everyone’s responsibility and doesn’t
happen by accident. Through the effort and attention each person on site
paid not only to keeping themselves safe, but to watching out for the safety
of their fellow worker, the project was a great success.” — Jeff Court, Regional
EHS Manager, First Solar.
Environmental Health & Safety Team
6,071 Truck Loads of First Solar Modules . . . . . . .
850,280 Posts Installed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,600 Safety Talks with Work Crews . . . . . . . . . . .
State Highway 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(0) Endangered Species Harmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4,434 Environmental, Health & Safety Trainings
2 Naps per Day on AST Buses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(0) Noise Threshold Violations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92.61% Recycled Material Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8,420, 000 First Solar Modules Installed . . . . . . . .
3,512,511 Man Hours Worked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jason Longman, Transportation Coordinator
Primo Vargas, Construction Supervisor
Tim Crowe, Safety Manager
Paul Brysky, Construction Compliance
Julie McEndree, Environmental Compliance
Carlos Yanez, Assistant Compliance Manager
Diana Durany, Project Coordinator
Dawn Legg, Construction Liaison
Taylor Vaugh, Compliance Coordinator
Paul Bisson, Construction Manager
Ken Northcote, Project Manager
First Solar provides world-class procurement and construction management
capabilities. As the largest buyer of utility-scale PV power electronics, our
global supply chain network has strong purchasing power and ensures the
timely delivery of First Solar modules and balance of system components to
construction sites. Our proven construction management capabilities have
completed more than 2.1GW of utility-scale PV plants on three continents and
provide significant value to plant owners, developers, and plant builders. Topaz
is no exception and all the people involved in the Topaz Construction and
Project Management team are proud to have been part of a world class project.
Construction and Project Management Teams
Paul Bisson, Georges Antoun and
Ken Northcote.
What’s Your Favorite Topaz Number? A Query to First Solar’s Topaz Team
— Richard D’Amato, Director of Construction, First Solar
Richard D’Amato
Working on the Topaz project was one of the highlights of my 50 year career in
construction. The residents of SLO County, as well as travelers from all over the
US, made this project the success it is. Never in the history of solar construction
has a project of this magnitude been undertaken. We were fortunate to have
union craft successfully working alongside non-union craft to construct
one of the largest solar power plants in the world — as a manager, that is an
accomplishment I am very proud of. I want to personally thank the men and
women who contributed to the success of Topaz, a solar project that will
provide clean renewable energy to California for many years to come.
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4. First Solar Topaz Construction Liaison
Construction Liaison: Dawn Legg
Direct Line: 480-390-6256
Toll-Free Hotline: 877-228-3331
Dawn.legg@firstsolar.com
10400 Helios Way
Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Community Outreach / Construction Liaison
First Solar is committed to being a good neighbor and a
responsible partner in local communities where we build our
projects. With an emphasis on results, First Solar’s Dawn Legg
has provided support to the Topaz project as community
outreach specialist, construction liaison, transportation
coordinator and publisher of the ARRAY construction notice.
“Dawn was not just a voice on the phone, she knew us as
people and families and no problem was too big or too small for
her to personally manage” stated Kathy Hannemann of the
Carrisa Plains Elementary School.
Since 2011, First Solar has supported San Luis Obispo county
schools, organizations, non-profits and events with over
$300,000.00 in donations. “These contributions represent First
Solar’s values in action, and we are honored to have been part of
the process to ensure support for all the communities in and around
Topaz.” said Laura Abram, First Solar’s Director of Public Affairs.
First Solar Community Support
BHE Renewables
Maria M. Kelly, BHE Renewables, Business &
Community Relations Representative,
Topaz Solar Farms
C: 805-423-8763
O: 602-271-5639
E: mmkelly@bherewables.com
Maria M. Kelly