Aug 30 2010
The Blythe Solar Power Project, located in Southeast California and waiting for final approval from the Federal regulators, will hold the distinction of being the largest solar power plant in the globe.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the US government has released the required final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the power project for its smooth passage. On completion and becoming fully operational the power project will produce approximately 1,000 MW clean power to supply electric power to approximately 800,000 houses in the state. Holly Roberts, who works in BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office in Palm Springs, Calif as Associate Field Manager said, that the BLM has already initiated the work on the record of decisions and agreement monitoring plans, and completed the paper work on leasing and recovery
According to the project developer Solar Millennium LLC, of Oakland, the 6 billion Blythe Project will take at least six years for the completion of its all four phases. The project spans 7,025 acres of BLM land located in the Riverside County and lies eight miles west of Blythe city. On completion of the work the plant will almost double the current solar installation capacity of 585 MW all over USA. Uwe T. Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Solar Millennium, called the project a very bold statement and added that the 1000 MW plant will offset at least 2 million tons of Carbon Dioxide from the earth atmosphere annually.
The construction proposal of the plant did not invite much controversial issues over environment. Some of the raised objections include the relocation of the endangered Mojave desert tortoises spotted to be living at the location, and removal of Sonoran scrub that provides food to countless number of golden eagles and other birds in the area. The company was suggested to provide a 7000 acre desert tract for lessening the impact on loss of wild life habitat by either handing over the land to BLM for development or pay a long term lease for managing the site.
Source: http://www.solarmillennium.de