NRG, SunPower plot 250-megawatt solar power plant

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.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com