Large-Scale Solar Power Plants Could Power Nation, Combat Global Warming and Create Thousands of Jobs: Over 4,000 Megawatts of Solar Power Under Development Threatened by Lapsing Federal Tax Incentives 5/08/2008

California could generate as much as 877,200 megawatts (MW) of power from solar power plants; according to a report released today, “On the Rise: Solar Thermal Power and the Fight Against Global Warming” by Environment California. The report also finds that America has the potential to meet all of its current electricity needs with large central concentrating solar power plants. These solar thermal power plants covering a 100 x 100-mile area in the Southwest, slightly more than what’s already been excavated for strip mining for coal across the country, could power the entire nation; while slashing global warming emissions. Because solar thermal energy storage allows electric generating capacity even when the sun is not shining, it can replace traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas and nuclear power.