Seven states to install 1,000 MW of CSP
WASHINGTON, DC, US, 2004-11-10 Refocus Weekly
Seven states in the western U.S. will invest US$1.9 million to install 1,000 MW of concentrating solar power systems.
Half of the funding will come from the federal Department of Energy's Office
of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy in the first year, with $61,690 to
come from the Western Governor's Association and the involved states. WGA will
provide additional funds in later years of the five-year initiative, while DOE
will provide expertise and technical information on CSP systems for the entire
term.
The participating states include New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah,
Texas and Colorado, which will work with WGA to achieve new power purchase
agreements for 1,000 MW of CSP by 2010. That capacity is sufficient for 150,000
homes.
“This exciting initiative will provide a substantial engine for economic
development, job creation, air quality improvements and new, non-polluting
sources of electricity supply for the region,” says David Garman of DOE.
“The federal long-term goal is to lower the cost of CSP technology to 7¢/kWh
from the current cost of 12 to 14¢.”
The first year will establish a stakeholder group, develop the process by which
regional stakeholders can achieve the 1,000 MW goal, and form a utility
consortium. The agreement supports on-going state projects such as the 1 MW
trough plant being built in Arizona, a 50 MW trough plant in Nevada that will be
built in 2005, a task force in New Mexico to determine the appropriate CSP
technology for that state, and a task force that is developing a solar strategy
to include a wide range of solar technologies for California.
The cost-sharing agreement was contained in a resolution approved by the WGA in
June, which calls for the development of 30,000 MW of renewables and energy
efficiency improvements in western states by 2015. Of that amount, 1,000 MW is
to be provided by CSP.
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