The Sunbelt: Living Up to Its Name
Nevada was recently graced by a witch’s brew of celebrities: Steve Wozniak (of Apple), Sally Ride (of NASA), and actor Ed Begley, Jr. (of Arrested Development). This unlikely trio was joining forces in order to launch Nevada Solar One, the state’s fancy new concentrating solar power plant. As per most CSP plants, the place stands out: four hundred acres of nearly 200,000 curved mirrors - enough to power 14,000 homes.
Just across the state line, Arizona’s newly announced plant hopes to trump Nevada Solar One by a factor of five: 70,000 homes, with a plant that aims to be the largest in the world. It will be built by Abengoa, a Spanish company - you might remember them from that gorgeous solar tower in Seville, Spain.
That plant in Spain generates 11 Megawatts. In Arizona? They’re aiming for 280.
The American Southwest has the potential to be a solar powerhouse - if the political will is there. A stimulus package (clean energy provisions included) was recently defeated - by one vote. Arizona senator Jon Kyl voted against it. And Arizona’s other senator, John McCain? He didn’t even show up.
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