Nevada could get huge solar thermal plant

[jpak]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21033316/

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Clean-energy pledges made last week at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York include one from a company that's looking at Nevada as a possible site for a big solar-thermal power plant.

John O'Donnell of Ausra Inc. said in a telephone interview that Ausra committed to development of solar-thermal plants that will generate 1,000 megawatts of power. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company plans to start with a 175-megawatt plant.

Also last week, San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric pledged to buy 1,000 megawatts of solar power over the next five years, and Florida-based FPL Group Inc. said it would develop plants that would produce another 500 megawatts of solar-thermal power.

Combined cost of the solar plants that would be built by Ausra and FPL could run about $3 billion, O'Donnell said. He added that Ausra is using technology that enables it to competitively price its energy.

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[kestrel91316]

1. Nah. NV would rather build three new coal-fired power plants in

White Pine County, where they currently have the cleanest, clearest air and water in the nation. Can't let THAT stand.