On August 10th, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the First Solar Inc.'s (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, a 550 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant.

The plant is planned for 16.8 square kilometers of public land east of Palm Springs, California, and will utilize First Solar cadmium telluride thin-film PV modules. The plant is much larger than any PV plant currently in operation in the world.

"The Desert Sunlight Solar Farm is the largest photovoltaic facility Interior has approved thus far and, when built, will help power our nation and economy," said Interior Secretary Salazar.

"With 12 large-scale solar projects approved in the last 18 months, we continue to make significant strides in spurring innovation, job-creation, and investment in the private sector while strengthening America’s energy security."

Plant to connect to SCE grid

The plant will include an on-site substation and a 230 kV generation tie line to connect the plant to another substation on Southern California Edison's (SCE, Rosemead, California, U.S.) electricity grid.

In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy granted a conditional commitment for a USD 1.88 billion loan guarantee for the project.

Decision includes amendments to BLM California Desert plan

The Interior Department states that the project underwent extensive environmental review and provides for significant mitigation, including shrinking the plant's footprint to less than one-quarter of its original size. The final environmental impact statement for the plant was issued on April 15th, 2011.

Additionally, the BLM has required that First Solar provide funding for the acquisition of more than 30 square kilometers of suitable habitat for desert tortoise and other wildlife species.

Approval includes amendments to desert plan

The DOI's decision also approves amendments to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert Conservation Area Plan.

The plan identifies the plant's site as available for solar energy development and identifies more than 59 square kilometers in the Project Study Area as unavailable for solar energy development.

2011-08-12 | Courtesy: U.S. Department of the Interior; Image: First Solar Inc. | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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