The Ivanpah Solar Project of BrightSource Energy Receives Environmental Impact Statement

BrightSource Energy Inc., a leading developer of solar thermal power plants of utility-scale, has announced that the U.S. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has issued its FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for the company’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System.

The company has also made an announcement that a CEC (California Energy Commission) siting committee has issued a proposed decision that recommends the Ivanpah project’s approval. BrightSource Energy anticipates to receive all final permits for the commencement of construction by fall 2010.

The proprietary LPT (Luz Power Tower) technology of BrightSource Energy enables the firm in employing low-impact environmental designs. The Ivanpah project is located in an area of around 3,600 acres in California’s San Bernardino County. When completed, it is slated to be the biggest solar energy project in the world and is anticipated to reduce CO₂ emissions in excess of 400,000 tons on an annual basis.