BLYTHE – (INT) – Construction has started on the Desert Quartzite solar project that will crank out enough electricity to power 120-thousand homes.

The project is located in eastern Riverside County on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It will result in a private infrastructure investment of $1 billion, and generate up to 900 jobs at peak construction.

The 300-megawatt plant will feature an on-site substation, switchyard, site security, a 230 kV generation-tie line, and a maintenance facility.

The BLM approved the Desert Quartzite project in 2020 after an environmental analysis.

On a related note in Sacramento, legislation was introduced Wednesday enabling California to work with states across the West to create a regional electric system.

It would expand the footprint for clean energy resources and enable better collaboration, transparency, and integration across the western electrical transmission grid system.

Story Date: May 1, 2023