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September 28, 2007
PG&E Solar Projects
FPL and PG&E team with Ausra on solar projects�|�Tech&Sci�|�Science�|�Reuters.com
Two of the nation's biggest power companies are teaming up with a solar start-up to create one of the world's largest solar power projects, which they say could make electricity at a competitive price.
PG&E Corp, FPL Corp and solar thermal power generator Ausra Inc unveiled plans on Thursday for utility-scale solar plants which they claim will produce electricity at a price comparable with conventional fossil-fuel power plants.
The announcement represents the commitment among the three companies to build 2,000 megawatts of solar thermal plants in several states, starting in California where PG&E is based, and Florida, where FPL has its headquarters. It was made at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, former President Bill Clinton's annual philanthropic meeting.
The overall project of at least $5 billion will be able to generate enough power for almost 1 million homes.
Developing large-scale thermal solar power plants is seen as a major step in cutting costs for renewable power and making it an economically viable alternative to coal-fired power, even without government subsidies
Posted by Sun at September 28, 2007 04:08 AM