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From The Press Enterprise
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Don't Derail Solar
Projects In The Desert
April 7, 2010
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By Josef Eichhammer, CEO of Solar Millennium
LLC and President and COO of Solar Trust of America LLC and Uwe T.
Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Solar Trust of America LLC
The deserts of Southern California are blessed with sunshine and are
among the best places in the world to build solar energy power
plants. The region has high solar radiation levels, more than 300
cloudless days per year, and is close to major load centers in
California, Arizona and Nevada.
Effectively harnessing and developing this abundant resource is the
right thing to do, and it will require both strong political
leadership and advanced technology. Today, we ask our leaders in
Sacramento to support us as we move forward to put California on the
forefront of this movement.
Solar Millennium LLC is developing three solar project sites in Kern
and Riverside counties that, once completed, will generate enough
electricity to power more than 500,000 California households.
...
The electricity generated by each plant will prevent a quarter megaton
of global warming pollution from being emitted into the atmosphere.
This is equivalent to taking about 40,000 cars off the road each
year.
Solar energy is a win-win for Southern California, and the tangible
economic benefits are critical to the region. The construction and
operation of the seven facilities will create thousands of new
jobs... as well as millions of dollars in local economic benefits
each year...
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Southern California's desert regions can lead the drive to reduce our
dependence on foreign oil by cultivating safe and renewable energy
sources. It will not only protect our nation, but also give a healthy
boost to the local economy for years to come. The industry was born
here, and we should make sure it stays here.
(This article can be read at: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_W_op_07_
eichhammer_loc.42c6961.html)
