Solar Power Plants in California receive federal funding

The first large scale solar power plants finally won approval in the White House. The 45-magawatt system created by Chevron Energy Solutions will be built in the Lucerne Valley, California. "It's our expectation we will see thousands of megawatts of solar energy sprouting on public lands" Mr. Salazar of Chevron says. This plant could generate enough energy to power up to 566,000 homes. Hundreds of millions of dollars of the 2.1 billion dollar project will be funded by Federal stimulus grants and federal loan guarantees. One of the main reasons the project is taking place all this year is so the company can take advantage of the soon-to-expire renewable energy grants. The government will be using categorical grants, used for specific, narrow purposes, to fund the plant. The government will be distributing these grants on a project, not formulaic basis.

Aria Greenberg

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/science/earth/06solar.html?scp=5&sq=federal%20grants&st=cse