Go Toward the Light

Two proposed solar projects to boost California's solar capacity by half

Posted at 10:35 AM on 27 Mar 2008

Two large solar-power projects were proposed in Southern California this week that together could provide up to 500 megawatts of power, just over half the state's current solar capacity and enough to provide electricity to about 300,000 homes. One of the projects, proposed by utility Southern California Edison, aims to put solar panels on 65 million square feet of commercial buildings across Southern California. It's expected to cost $875 million and could be completed in five years, pending approval by the state's utility regulators. The other project, to be sited in the Mojave Desert, is a solar thermal power plant proposed by utility Florida Power and Light; the plant could be operational by 2011. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) praised the increase in solar power. "These are the kinds of big ideas we need to meet California's long-term energy and climate change goals," he said.

sources: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press

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Comments: (5 comments)

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Good & Bad Solar

Support the first project and fight the second. The first one is exactly what should be done: those who use power should have to generate it. The second project is exactly what should not be done: destroying natural areas so that the naked apes can have their unnecessary artificial power.

by Wolverine at 3:04 PM on 27 Mar 2008

This point needs to be emphasized:

Correct siting of a green energy plant can never destroy the natural environment. Kinda defeats the purpose. We're almost at the end of the 'not in my backyard' era and the 'use it up and throw it out' era. Along with some other eras: of stable climate, of mostly mild weather, of cheap energy and transportation, of cheap natural resources, and of taking our standard of living for granted.

by catman at 11:46 AM on 28 Mar 2008

Solar?

It all sounds great. But why is it that we have a Republican (granted, an unusual one, lol) doing this when so many Democratic states, with more sun than California, are sitin' around with their thumbs up their bottoms.

PLEASE, I beg everyone! Make a pledge to write or email your elected officials AT LEAST half as often as you do the various blogs.

I know that up until the last month, I put most of my time doing the same thing, but WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

John.Cheney88@gmail.com

by JohnCheney88 at 2:25 PM on 28 Mar 2008

I'm Just Dumb, I guess

So educate me! Exactly why do we want Big Electrical Co. to build massive Solar facilates?(Transporting energy long, and wasteful distances)
Okay it's better then more coal, or nuclear! (Believe me, I know. I can't breath when I open my windows, in Florida, 25 miles from the three coal power plants) Everything, is covered with soot! Our screen room, (never used) the roof.

Why doesn't the government set-up a program, with authorized installers, and low interest loans, so individual home owners can install Photo-voltic systems on their homes? Hopefully, with meters that run backwards? The homeowner being paid the same rate, that they pay!
PS: Florida Light and Power, does NOT pay at the same rate, roughly, less then half! Do you havfe any idea how much SUN we have down here????

**Country Before Party** GO GREEN (Party!)

by AndieG at 8:53 PM on 28 Mar 2008

Solar Rebates

@ AndieG

Actually Florida does have net metering and some of the best solar incentives in the country ($4 per installed Watt) and up to $20,000 rebate. If you are a net producer (over a 12 month cycle) then they'll pay the lower "avoided cost rate". Here's the link:

http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?I ...

@Wolverine
Though I have sometimes agreed with your comments, you've been going off of the deep end lately, sounding more like an ELF nut-job. You don't like any interim solutions that aren't perfect? Change takes time. By fighting everything that is less than ideal, you have become worse than Mr Bailo, though at the other extreme, and offsetting any good work you have done in the past.

"It's not 'Save the Earth', it's 'Save the Humans'. Earth will be around long after we're gone." [pp] George Carlin

by Greennovator at 1:35 PM on 30 Mar 2008

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