More Solar for California Desert

LOS ANGELES, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The world's largest solar
power plant cleared an important hurdle on Wednesday, laying
the groundwork for a dramatic expansion in solar energy
generation in the United States and around the world.
The proposed $6 billion-plus plant in Blythe, California,
being developed jointly by Chevron Corp. (CVX.N) and Solar
Millennium AG (S2MG.DE), won clearance for construction by the
California Energy Commission.
The plant would generate up to 1,000 megawatts of energy
daily.
By comparison, for all of last year, the United States
installed about 481 megawatts of solar energy, according to the
Solar Energy Industry Association. The largest solar plants to
date are in the 200 to 350 megawatt range.
The Blythe plant essentially groups four 250-MW plants,
with the first slated to start generating electricity in 2013.
The total pricetag is estimated at above $6 billion.