March 12, 2007 3:58 AM PDT
Yes, as the picture shows, you're out in the middle of the desert. The site was chosen because it gets more solar radiation than almost anywhere else in the country, according to Gilbert Cohen, senior vice president of Acciona Solar Power. It is also near three power substations, which take power from the solar plant and deliver it to cities. Solar thermal differs from most solar panel installations in that the power isn't mostly consumed by nearby businesses.
Photo by Michael Kanellos/CNET News.com
