Three More Solar Projects

By Robert E. Jensen
The Desert Independent

January 31, 2010

BLYTHE, Calif – Again, the crowd of potential beneficiaries and detractors of three proposed Solar Power projects being “fast-tracked” for development in the Blythe environs boarded buses at City Hall last Monday for site tours, informational presentations and official hearings necessary to get these innovative proposals off the ground.

One of the most interesting projects will take place at the old Rice Army Air Base about 15 miles west of Vidal. In this remote location, on land already disturbed by human activity and privately owned, there may appear a field of heliostats – curved mirrors – about two miles in diameter that will be focusing the sun’s rays on a tungsten-steel “receiver” on top of a tower 538 feet high. This receiver will be heated to very high temperatures, will glow like a miniature sun, and will deliver molten salt through heat exchangers to drive a steam turbine that will be able to operate at night due to the ability of the molten salt to retain heat. The company behind the project – Solar Reserve – has ties to Rocketdyne, Inc. and will be able to access the technology behind the Space Shuttle and Apollo programs.

The chartered tour bus to the Rice project had to take the long way around as Highway 95 and the Midland road were still flooded out from the storm that hit the area the previous Thursday. The route through Desert Center to Rice was an enjoyable trip with commentary and videos shown on the seat monitors. The site itself was bordered with Mylar balloons so that one could gauge the distances. The old Army Air Base had only a concrete pad remaining; with the only fixture an unidentifiable 60’s era “land-yacht” so used for target practice it could have been the death car of “Bonnie and Clyde” fame. The land itself is in a natural bowl from which the heliostats can focus their rays. It was noted that there was evidence of Desert Tortoises present, but they would be relocated outside the fenced perimeter of the site rather than be translocated to another area entirely. For more information on the Rice Solar Power Project, please click HERE.

The other sites were toured as well, but later in the afternoon. The tour group visited two of Solar Millennium’s proposals – the Blythe Solar Power Project west of the airport and the Palen Solar Power Project west of Desert Center. Both of these projects are similar to the NextEra project in that they make use of parabolic troughs as well. Parabolic mirrors focus on a pipe filled with liquid pumped through the array into a steam turbine that, again, generates electricity. The Blythe facility is expected to generate 1,000 Megawatts and the Palen plant 500 Megawatts. Issues that may affect these projects may come from the fact that the land has to be graded to level and vegetation removed. Water usage may also be a factor in its effects on the ground water basin levels.

Following the tours, the official California Energy Commission began the first of many open hearings on all three projects. Representatives from BLM and California Fish and Game gave presentations as well as the schedule of events that will have to take place in a very short time in order to “fast track” these proposals. As in the NextEra project, all discussion of these matters has to take place in open hearings and on the record. There can be no contract between representatives of the companies involved and members of the California Energy Commission. Public input was asked for and received from local dignitaries.

“Butch” Hull came to the podium wondering if the heliostats at the Rice project could, for some unknown reasons, become a hazard to airplanes flying overhead. An engineer came forward to state that, while the mirrors focus the beams at the tip of the receiver tower, they dissipate if misdirected. Looking down from a plane, a field of heliostats appears to be no more than a shimmering lake.

Lee Haven of Granite Construction came forward to give his blessing and note that courses are being offered at COD for Solar Power workers. Larry McLaughlin of the COD Technical Center came forward also to sell his program and note that courses for potential employees are being offered at the Palo Verde Community College as well.

David Lane, City Manager, admitted that he was a little disconcerted to see a power company consultant in his usual chamber seat but went on to say that he fully supported an industry that was “green” and that will support the community.

Quentin Hanson requested that any agreements allow for a specific percentage of local laborers be employed should the projects go through.

Danny Robinson was concerned about the Blythe Power Project tapping groundwater that may rightfully belong to the Palo Verde Irrigation District and asked if Solar Millennium had received the blessing of the Bureau of Reclamation. He further stated that the well would not affect local farmers but he would rather have the company start out on the right foot rather than come to with a water-rights “glitch” six months down the road. He also later voiced concerned about land-leveling and the possibility that McCoy Wash may give us more problems as that is the main drainage from the higher land surrounding the valley.

Local farmer Roger Murphy was wondering about the rights of adjoining land owners as he believed he owned property alongside the airport project. He was assured that if he indeed owned land within 500 yards of the plant, he would have been duly notified of his rights in the matter and that all recorded property owners had been so notified.

Jim Shipley gave his blessing to the Solar Millennium projects, noting that the company had already proved itself to be a “good neighbor” by joining the Chamber of Commerce.

Angie Patel stated that the project will have a big impact on local businesses and gave her approval.

Mayor Joey De Conninck gave the panel an official welcome and apologized for being detained in Coachella. He stated that he would have no problem with Blythe becoming the “Solar Energy Capital of the World”.

For more information on the Blythe and Palen Solar Power Projects, please visit the California Energy Commissions website.