A large solar energy plant won approval for construction on public land in California on Wednesday, the AP reports.

The Mojave Desert in Southern California will host a 663.5 megawatt solar energy plant that could power as many as 500,000 homes, according to the Interior Department.

The approval issued by Ken Salazar, Interior Department secretary, authorizes the Bureau of Land Management – an Interior subagency – to avail Tessera Solar of more than 4,600 acres for a 30-year period so it may build the Calico Solar Project.

"The Calico Solar Project is one of several projects in the pipeline that will help California and this nation build a renewable energy economy," Salazar said when signing the Record of Decision. "With each project, we are helping to create new jobs for American workers, reduce carbon emissions, promote energy independence and strengthen our national security."

Tessera – whose U.S. base is in Houston and international base is in London – initially pursued more than 8,200 acres for the project but BLM declined, citing concern for the welfare of the endangered desert tortoise.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102004341.html
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2010/2010-10-20-091.html