OK, so $450,000,000 to build an electric plant that serves 100,000 homes (in daylight hours only). That would be $4,500 per home. Amortised over 15 years that's $300 per home per year plus (we have to realistically assume) 20% per annum maintenance costs which is another $90 per year per home. So nearly $400 per year per home in the middle of a desert for daylight hours when presumably almost everyone is out at work.
You have to be joking!
NRG Solar and SunPower said they will begin construction on a 250-megawatt solar power plant in California. When finished the plant will be one of the largest in the world.
The companies said they plan to begin construction on the California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo County in the second half of 2011. The solar power facility will be partially operating by the end of 2011 with the remainder online in 2012 and 2013.
Here’s the site map.
According to NRG and SunPower, the plant will power about 100,000 homes when complete. NRG will finance the project—with $450 million over the next four years—and SunPower develop, design, build and maintain the plant.
The project is seeking a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. The California Valley Solar Ranch already has 25-year purchase agreements in place to sell 250 megawatts of power to Pacific Gas & Electric.
