In the same manner as the newly approved Ivanpah Solar Project, which is projected to produce enough energy to power the equivalent to 140,000 average American homes, the state of California just recently approved another project to try to utilize the enormity of its deserts in another solar energy generating machine. California just approved the plans for a 250 megawatt Genesis Solar Energy Project. This $300 million dollar project will use parabolic-trough technology to make enough energy to power nearly 190,000 homes with construction being completed by 2013.
http://www.getsolar.com/blog/feds-approve-another-desert-solar-energy-project-in-california/13816/
It is great that we are finally utilizing the deserts, which is area that isn't economical to to be used in any other way, to help solve our energy problem. The problem that I have is that so much money is being spent, $300 million, to power only a few homes, 190,000. It doesn't seem worth it, at least not in the long run. In my opinion, the money would have been better spent towards innovating the current technology. The land isn't going anywhere and to work for the future of alternative energy an investment was probably a more logical approach to the problem. Unfortunately, I believe California was motivated more by public image then a concern for the future in alternative energy. This has to change before this country can hope to conquer our energy problem.
ReplyDelete