Cali Getting Big Time Solar Plants
Yes, it's true...Power moguls PG&E announced today that they are teaming up with OptiSolar and Sun Power to build two massive solar power plants that could generate 800 megawatts of electricity at peak capacity, enough to power 239,000 homes. This means that PG&E will be buying power from the two solar farms, slated to be the largest in the world.
The biggest plant will cover almost 10 square miles of farmland in my hometown of San Luis Obispo. Picture a swath of shiny solar panels fro as far as the eye can see, but it will be "very visually unobtrusive," says OptiSolar CEO Randy Goldstein; with panels only three feet high, "It almost looks like a lake." Both plants aim to be up and running by 2011, dependent on state and local approval.
These sexy, sparkling solar squares of love mark the first large scale utility-sized use of solar power which, in case you're keeping track, could radically change the renewable energy industry by proving solar power can be affordably produced for a huge number of people, not just on the rooftops of individual homes and businesses.
"We are very happy to be working with PG&E to help meet California's requirements for clean, renewable energy and are committed to working closely with the local community as this project moves forward," said Goldstein. "Our solar farms are quiet and emission-free, with solar panels mounted near ground level to minimize visual impact. Implementing cost-competitive solar power on this scale establishes thin-film photovoltaic generation as an important contributor to global sustainability."
So there you go. For more info check out THIS or the OFFICIAL RELEASE.
About this blog
Roxanne Kotzman is a Daily News Photo Department veteran of nine years. When she and longtime friend Stacy Long
discovered their love all of all things environmentally responsible, they launched Happy Monkey Planet and jumped head-first into the vibrant eco-community.
Wow, so much to learn! But initially the idea is a pretty simple one: Let's change the world through information, education and action.
Rox & Stacy are a lot like you: ecologically minded but sometimes just plain overwhelmed when charged with the task of making a far-reaching difference in the environment. They have jobs, families, homes, lives and pets.
But what if doing better was a simple as a light-bulb change, a reusable canvas grocery bag, recycling that soda can or a cold-water wash?
These eco-chicks just hope to have a little fun, learn a little more, share a lot of information and maybe make the planet a happier, greener, cleaner place.
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