Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/141651
Biggest Solar continued from page 57 In January, MidAmerican Solar purchased the project for $2 billion. It also owns the world's second-biggest solar plant - the 550 MW Topaz Solar Farm under development in California. And it has a 49 percent stake in the 290 MW Agua Caliente solar project in Arizona. Since it began acquiring renewable energy projects last year, MidAmerican Renewables has quickly grown to an 1830 megawatt (MW) portfolio in wind, geothermal, solar and hydro. When current wind projects are completed, it will have 2284 MW in that sector alone, making it the largest owner of U.S. wind farms by an investor-owned utility. The utility also recently agreed to retire seven old coal plants. Dust is an Issue Antelope Valley also has an approved re-vegetation plan to control dust, which is an emerging concern. Antelope Valley Solar Project is different from another project nearby - Antelope Valley Solar Ranch, under construction by First Solar. Los Angeles County recently halted the project because of health issues caused by dust. Building a solar plant in the desert requires considerable scraping and clearing to make way for thousands of acres of solar panels. That kicks up dust, which can cause "Valley fever" when people working at the site or living nearby breathe in fungal spores that are released when desert soils are disturbed. Agricultural workers have long contracted this illness when working in the desert, but the risk is rising with the enormous solar projects being built now. About half the people that get infected develop flu-like symptoms. Wearing a respirator can prevent it, but workers often take them off when working in such hot conditions. The huge threeyear construction project is expected to employ around 650 workers and generate more than $500 million in regional economic impact. Split into two projects located in Kern and Los Angeles counties (California), the Antelope Valley Solar Projects will be the world's largest solar power development under construction. IDA UNIVERSAL July-August 2013 Once completed, the solar projects are expected to produce enough energy to power approximately 400,000 average California homes with clean, renewable solar power. Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/29/ largest-solar-power-plant-inworld-now-under-construction /#5UeiVrLoqBj83WKl.99. ● www.sustainablebusiness.com 59