1,000-Megawatt Plant in Calif. Marks New Milestone in Solar Expansion

[jpak]

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/26/26greenwire-1000-megawatt-plant-in-calif-marks-new-milesto-25893.html

Federal regulators are nearing final approval of what would be the largest solar power plant in the world, a milestone that sets a new standard for the industry and marks a major advancement in the Obama administration's efforts to expand renewable energy production nationwide.

The Bureau of Land Management has issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Blythe Solar Power Project in southeast California. When fully operational, the solar thermal power plant would have the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power roughly 800,000 homes.

The final EIS, which is considered the last federal regulatory hurdle before a record of decision authorizing construction, is open for public comment through Sept. 18. The California Energy Commission, which must also render a decision on the Blythe plant, formally recommended this month that the project be approved.

"We're already beginning work on the record of decision, on compliance monitoring plans, on getting all the paperwork together for the rentals and reclamation, and our hope is to package it all together for one big signing" as early as October, said Holly Roberts, associate field manager for BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office in Palm Springs, Calif.

<more>

[DrGregory]

1. I wonder....

The Blythe installation is not photo-voltaic, but
solar thermal. It captures heat and runs that
through the typical Rankine steam cycle that is
found in fossil and nuclear plants, and for
which the condensers need cooling.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_blythe/

A heat transfer fluid (HTF) is heated to high temperature (750°F) as it circulates through the receiver tubes. The heated HTF is then piped through a series of heat exchangers where it releases its stored heat to generate high pressure steam. The steam is then fed to a traditional steam turbine generator where electricity is produced.

I wonder how many people are going to be
decrying how much water this solar plant
will be using....

Dr. Greg

[txlibdem]

4. How much water this solar plant will be using

Not much, actually:

The planned facility complies with all applicable laws and regulations. BSPP would employ dry-cooled technology and would use 90 percent less water than previous plant designs, primarily for mirror washing, feed water and onsite domestic use.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/approval-california-energy-commission,1421764.html

This solar power project (which is actually 4 separate plants totaling almost 1 GW of solar) is the model for future solar plants.

[JDPriestly]

2. Great news for California and the whole region. This is just the beginning.

[jillan]

3. Arizona has been expanding like crazy in Solar as well - but the only bad thing is

Brewer is trying to take credit for it. Aaaargh!

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/070310_solana
World's largest solar plant slated for Gila BendSolana solar facility gets $1.45 billion federal loan guarantee.

That's two HUGE plants thanks to this administration and the STIMULUS money. That failed Stimulus Plan ;)

[DrGregory]

5. depends on what the stated GOAL is.

>That's two HUGE plants thanks to this administration and the STIMULUS money. That failed Stimulus Plan

It all depends on what the stated GOAL of the
plan was. If when the stimulus plan was passed
the stated goal was building solar power plants;
then I would say the plan was a success.

However, building solar power plants was NOT
the goal - stimulating the economy so as to
put people back to work was the stated goal.

We still have unemployment approaching 10%.
So in terms of the stated goal of reducing
unemployment; the stimulus planned FAILED.

Dr. Greg