World's largest solar plant gets clearance

The world's largest solar power plant cleared an important hurdle on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for a dramatic expansion in solar energy generation in the United States and around the world. The proposed $6 billion-plus plant in Blythe, California, being developed jointly by Chevron Corp and Solar Millennium AG, won clearance for construction by the California Energy Commission.
The plant would generate up to 1,000 megawatts of energy daily. By comparison, for all of last year, the United States installed about 481 megawatts of solar energy, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. The largest solar plants to date are in the 200 to 350 megawatt range. The Blythe plant essentially groups four 250-MW plants, with the first slated to start generating electricity in 2013. The total pricetag is estimated at above $6 billion.