Posted on 03/01/2008 3:28:56 AM PST by PeaceBeWithYou
Abengoa Solar Purchases 3,000 Acres for $1 Billion Solana Generating Plant
Abengoa Solar, a Spanish-based solar energy company, has purchased roughly 3,000 acres near Gila Bend, AZ, where it intends to develop the world's largest solar power plant.
An investment entity associated with Brandon Wolfswinkel of Tempe, AZ, sold the land for $45.12 million, or about $14,700 per acre.
Abengoa Solar, which has solar plants in Spain and northern Africa, will construct and operate the 280-megawatt, $1 billion facility known as the Solana Generating Plant. The plant will use thousands of giant mirrors covering 1,900 acres to harness the sun's heat (rather than its light) to turn steam turbines, generating electricity.
The plant is scheduled to go into production in 2011. It will be able to power 70,000 households while avoiding more than 400,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to Abengoa.
Arizona Public Service, the state's largest utility, has agreed to purchase the energy from Abengoa over the next 30 years. "This is a major milestone for Arizona in our efforts to increase the amount of renewable energy available in the United States," stated Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. "Arizona is leading the way in protecting our world for future generations through increasing the amount of renewable energy, combating climate change, fighting for air quality and much more. This plant will offer Arizonans a clean and efficient source of energy."
Yes, in a sane world we’d be getting 80% of our electricity from nuclear, like france or even 30% like Japan!
*sigh* we have liberals instead. *spit*
UCANSEE2 ~ Grass doesnt grow under a cedar tree.
OTOH, in the desert, grass grows best where it gets some shade!
I lived in Scottsdale in the mid-80s and was only back there a few Christmases ago to notice how much it “grew” since then, to my chagrin/ It is even more mall-crowded than it was in the 80s. I must have missed any reference to an alfalfa field in this piece-—I assumed that the entrepreneurs would be drawn to the bleakest and most unusable acreage in the state because 1. it was bound to be cheaper and 2. that’s where the sun would shine strongest. $14000 /acre is pricier than I would have thought, but that’s obviously the result of a lot of negotiation, and it’s a seller’s market, obviously.Any land in Bergen County New Jersey can be worth as much as
70 times that, especially if it’s a bone of contention in an Open Space controversy in the middle of a suburban town facing “buildout”, I have been involved in these issues in my own town. I have been thinking along these lines myself,(remote solar grids) as there are countless thousands of acres in several states available for “a song”.Of course these are sparsely populated states like Montana, Wyoming,etc. Having immersed myself in this subject quite a bit for a while I’ve come to the conclusion that solar and wind and the alternate energy sources ARE the future. To me, the really regrettable thing about this article is that it turns out to be a SPANISH company that has the rights to build it and is going to reap the benefits from native Arizonans.
There is simply no excuse for that and I would really like to learn what the backstory is there.It’s a great subject which is only now, decades after it first got any attention, finally gathering some kind of momentum.
“You managed to find yet another problem to go with a solution. Impressive, young Skywalker!”
As always you find ways to be offensive.
“I believe Jules Verne never set foot in Hollywood, nor made a single film in france, for that matter...”
Your logic is astounding.
They can put these solar arrays in desert where not even a lizard can live, much less corn grow.
I guess when you can’t argue what someone said, you cite something they didn’t say and ridicule that.
Offensive? I was admiring a rare talent, an ability to spot a dark cloud to go with every silver lining.
One wonders what makes it worthwhile for you to get out of bed on any given morning.
“As was yours, when you responded to a comment about Hollywood, with a problem from a book by Jules Vern (sic).”
perhaps my argument was too deep. The idea of going to the moon is usually attributed to a book written by Jules Verne. In that book he sent people to the moon in what was essentially a very large cannon projectile.
This was in response to the statement that Hollywood was responsible for the idea of going to the moon. That was an incorrect statement.
Hollywood has come up with technical models very similar the one in this story.
France never entered into the discussion until you introduced it.
‘One wonders what makes it worthwhile for you to get out of bed on any given morning”
Its the pleasant discussion with you null. isn’t that obvious.
Stories about going to the Moon predate Verne by millenia, he was just the first to use plausible, though unworkable, technological means, rather than magic carpets or bottles of dew.
I read NoLibZone’s post as using any number of Buck Rodger/1950’s B movies as an examples of the things that people used to ridicule any thought of going to the Moon. I didn’t think he (or she) thought the idea was original with Hollywood.
I only brought up France to emphasize that Verne was half a planet away from Hollywood.
LOL, nicely played!
$3571/kW installed? Wow. That’s pretty steep.
Why not death valley?... Make it ENERGY Valley..
Cuz it will fill up when global warming raises the sea level???
Groovey put the solar panels on floats and raise aqua-culture shrimp as well..
The transmission lines with the highest risk of inadequate supply were past modeled as the strip from Phoenix to palm Springs along Hi 10 and in the vicinity of Gila River or the southern route to San Diego by Hi 8.
the plant doesn’t take care of the full load, only max of 10 % of that stretch, but when placed on the grid during high use periods, it makes the system more stable over a 24 hr period.
Hence it’s viability to both operator and receiver of power alike.
Hmmmmm, a problem as an opportunity? Are you sure you are on the right thread?
A value added poster is usually a capitalist..
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