World's Largest Solar Power Plant to Open in 2011

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Solar power is becoming more and more prevalent in our energy plan. There is now a new solar power plant in the works for rural Arizona about 70 miles outside of Phoenix. Of course, solar power is nothing new, but it has seen much more attention in recent years than it has before. The new plant will be called "Solana" and will cover roughly 1900 acres. Once completed, it will be able to singlehandedly power 70,000 homes, all from the power of the sun. Rather than the traditional Photovoltaic (PV) cells, the plant will use Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology. A large series of parabolic mirrors will redirect the solar radiation onto a single, central point beneath chimney. This will heat the air, causing it to rise quickly through the chimney, turning turbines on its way out.

I see this technology making a big impact on the Phoenix area. It will set a precedent for solar power plants elsewhere. I sincerely hope more American cities will begin to take advantage of this source of power. However, the CSP technology requires much more space and prior planning than simply setting up an array of PV panels. However, I am sure that the idea of clean, cheap, safe energy will become a more and more attractive option in the future.