1 GW SOLAR POWER ADVANCES

1 GW Blythe Solar Project Receives Final EIS
27 August 2010 (Solar Today)

"The U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Blythe Solar Power Project, a 1 GW solar thermal power plant planned for southeast California.

"The project, which received proposed California Energy Commission approval earlier this month, is being developed by Oakland, Calif.-based developer Solar Millennium LLC."

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"In the EIS, the BLM identified an "Agency Preferred Alternative" plan for the project, which considers impacts related to biological resources, cultural resources, land use, visual resources, and hydrology, water quality and water use…[and concluded] adverse impacts can be avoided or substantially reduced…"

1,000 megawatts of trough technology. That's making hay while the sun shines. (click to enlarge)

"…[T]he project would [be four power units of 250 MW for a total nominal capacity of 1,000 MW as a solar parabolic-trough generating station]…The project is expected to be constructed in four phases and will be connected to Southern California Edison’s planned Colorado River Substation…

"A final EIS is considered the last federal regulatory hurdle before a record of decision authorizing construction…Final authorization may occur as early as October…"