A Massive Solar Project Approved in the California Desert

The Biden administration announced on Monday that a major Solar Project in the California desert has been approved, with the capacity to power nearly 90,000 homes. According to the Interior Department, the $550 million Crimson Solar Project will be built on 2,000 acres of federal land west of Blythe, California. It is being built by Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar (CSIQ.O), and will supply power to California utility Southern California Edison.

President Joe Biden has pledged to accelerate renewable energy production on public lands as part of a wider plan to combat climate change, build jobs, and reverse former President Donald Trump’s focus on maximising fossil fuel extraction. For the 30-year life of the plant, Crimson Solar would generate 650 construction jobs, but only 10 permanent and 40 temporary jobs in operations and maintenance.

According to the announcement, Crimson Solar will generate 650 construction jobs, but only 10 permanent and 40 temporary jobs in operations and maintenance over the project’s 30-year lifespan. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in the statement, “Projects like this can help to make America a global leader in the clean energy economy through the acceleration of responsible renewable energy development on public lands.”

Through the acceleration of responsible renewable energy production on public lands, projects like this will help America become a global leader in the clean energy economy. The project will include a battery storage facility and will be built on land set aside for renewable energy production by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, a deal struck between California and the Obama administration that set aside land for wind and Solar Project.