 
|
Huge solar power project in Kern County moves forward
SACRAMENTO May 8, 2008 12:01am 
• State begins review process • Would generate 250 Megawatts of power The California Energy Commission has accepted an application to build a 250-megawatt solar thermal generating complex in Kern County and now a year-long review process has started.
The solar power plant would be built by Beacon Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida Power and Light Company (NYSE: FPL).
Commissioner Karen Douglas will head the committee that is charged with making sure the project meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. Commissioner Jeff Byron will serve as the associate member.
Beacon Solar LLC plans to develop the project on the western edge of the Mojave Desert along the Highway 14 corridor, about four miles from California City and 15 miles from the town of Mojave.
The Beacon Solar Energy Project would be situated on 2,012-acres of private land that used to be an agricultural site.
The project would produce electricity using parabolic trough solar thermal technology. Thousands of parabolic mirrors assembled in rows would receive and concentrate the solar energy to produce steam for powering a steam turbine generator.
If approved by the California Energy Commission, the project would begin construction in the third quarter of 2009, with commercial operations targeted for the third quarter of 2011.
|
|
