More good news for the solar energy sector with the approval yesterday by the US Interior Department of two major solar projects in California.

The 709 MW Imperial Valley Solar Project, which is being developed by Tessera Solar, will use Stirling Energy System’s SunCatcher concentrating solar power technology.

Meanwhile, Chevron Energy Solutions plans to install over 40,000 photovoltaic modules as part of the 45 MW Chevron Lucerne Valley Solar Project in San Bernardino County.

The two projects, which have been fast-tracked by the Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), have also been given the go ahead by the California Energy Commission (CEC).

The CEC has in recent days approved another solar thermal power plant, the 250 MW Genesis Solar Energy Project in Riverside County, which is also expected to be fast-tracked by the BLM.

The project is being developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources and is about 25 miles west of the recently approved 1000 MW Blythe solar development.

A further three projects, the 663.5 MW Calico Solar Project, the 500 MW Palen Solar Power Project and the 150 MW Rice Solar Energy Project are also expected to come up for discussion shortly.

The Palen Solar Power Project is being developed by Solar Millennium and Chevron Energy Solutions and will also be located in Riverside County between the cities of Blythe and Indio.

For further information:

www.tesserasolar.com/

www.chevronenergy.com/

www.blm.gov/

www.energy.ca.gov/

www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/genesis_solar/

www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solartwo/

www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_palen/index.html

Related stories:

White House installs solar panels, while world’s largest solar plant opens in Ontario (6-Oct)

First solar energy plant for UK, a third for California (28-Sept)

California approves ambitious 2020 renewable energy target (24-Sept)

Plan for world's largest solar plant approved (18-Aug)

07 October 2010