US approves 5th solar plant on western public land

Posted by Big Gav in csp, solar thermal power, tessera, us

The Washington Post reports another solar thermal power plant (this one 663 MW) has been approved in the US - US approves 5th solar plant on western public land.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved a big solar energy plant in the Mojave Desert, making it the fifth such project on western U.S. public lands to win federal authorization.

Salazar's approval Wednesday authorizes the Bureau of Land Management to offer Tessera Solar use of more than 4,600 acres for 30 years to build the Calico Solar Project.

The Interior Department says the 663.5-megawatt project could power 200,000 to 500,000 homes.

Houston-based Tessera originally sought more than 8,200 acres, but the BLM wanted to limit impacts on the endangered desert tortoise.

2 comments

EHS Director says 6:33 AM

30 years???
This tech, investors, market and option may be dead in 20?

NOTHING in the private sector (or China) would take 30 months if it was a good $plan$.

This is the result of $2 billion given to "one company" instead of making the industry competitive.

If dozens or better 100's were given the 2 billion in capital matched loans it could have moved mountains.

I LOVE and have great hope for the solar thermal industry, but this kind of put all the $$$ in one tech/project will be a market death blow.

Sustainable energy programs are only achievable with sustainable funding.

I hope the 30 and billion were just typo's ;-)

Big Gav says 8:58 AM

I read the 30 years as being the length of time they had the rights to the site - but if that is just how long they have to do something then its not much on the news front.