The future of Blythe, Calif. is looking mighty bright. The German firm Solar Millennium received the last of the governmental approvals after a year-long process. Four plants will be built in the Mojave Desert (8 miles from the city) covering 7,025 acres of public land and making it the largest solar project on US public lands — and the world.
Generating 1,000 megawatts of power, it’s expected to take care of more than 300,000 homes as well as hire 1,066 workers during construction and create 295 permanent positions.
“The Blythe Solar Power Project is a major milestone in our nation’s renewable energy economy and shows that the United States intends to compete and lead in the technologies of the future…. This project shows in a real way how harnessing our own renewable resources can create good jobs here at home,” said US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in signing the Record of Decision.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Bob Abbey explains, “With the approval of the Blythe project, the solar projects approved on BLM public lands in the last few weeks have the potential to generate up to 2,800 megawatts of renewable energy. That’s enough to power up to 2 million homes … We have truly arrived at America’s new energy frontier.”
The company hopes to start supplying electricity by 2013.
Read the full press release here.
Photo by Matt McGee via Flickr.