Three solar thermal plants in California's San Bernardino County are closer to fruition -- enough to power 140,00 homes, create 1,000 jobs, and perhaps lead the way to more.
Here's an excerpt:
An Oakland company's plans to build the world's largest solar thermal power plant in California's portion of the Mojave Desert cleared a major hurdle by winning approval of a key state energy commissioner.
California Energy Commissioner Jeffrey Bryon late Tuesday issued a 576-page report recommending that the project be approved. His recommendation will go to the full five-member commission after 30 days of public comment.
BrightSource Energy has proposed building three solar thermal plants, which heat water to produce steam to drive turbines, near the Ivanpah Dry Lake in San Bernardino County. The three plants would produce 392 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 140,000 homes, making it the largest solar thermal project in the world.
It is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs at the peak of construction, which could begin by the end of this year.
"The pattern suggests that we're going to see more of them," Warman said.
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