SOLAR ENERGY UPDATE: Concerns Raised About Impact of Solar Projects in The Mohave Desert, New 10MW PV Solar Energy Plant Planned for Chicago, Wal-Mart Expanding Its Use of Solar Power, India SEMI Has Plans to Get on The Global Dolar Map, First Solar to Build 53 MW Solar Facility in Germany

By Chris de Morsella on April 27, 2009 2 Comments American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, BLM, BP Solar, BrightSource Energy Inc., Brownfields, California, Chicago IL, Cottbus Germany, Director Amy Leuders, Earth Day, emissions reduction, Exelon, federal loan guarantee, First Solar Inc, fragile ecosystem, Germany, green jobs, impact solar projects, India, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, Juwi Holding AG, K. Subramanya, Mohave Desert, National Park Service, national sacrifice zones, Nevada, NPS, Oakland CA, Pacific Regional Director Jon Jarvis, PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, photovoltaic, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, PV, PV Advisory Committee, SEMI India, solar power, Solar Renewable Energy Certificates, SunPower, Tata, thin film photovoltaic modules, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, urban solar power, US Department of Energy, utility-scale solar projects, Wal-Mart

This update highlights several current issues and developments in the solar energy space. Concerns have been raised about the potential deleterious impact of utility scale solar energy projects in the fragile water poor desert environments of the Mohave Desert. Large scale solar collection farms use water to wash the mirrors and for concentrating solar thermal often use water for cooling.