Ever since US President Barrack Obama came to office, he has been implementing various measures to ensure that renewable energy sources gain popularity in the country. And the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has been ensuring the President succeeds in this noble goal as much as possible, by approving a large number of green energy projects including solar power plants and wind farms.

Recently, Salazar has approved the construction of a massive solar energy plant in California. The plant will be of 275 MW capacity, and will be connected with the nearest link to National grid – the San Diego Gas & Electric Imperial Valley Substation, via a 230 KV transmission line. The total electricity generated by the solar modules here will be enough to power more than 80,000 homes in the region, without a single blackout or brownout, unless there is a major natural disaster.

The plant will be set up on more than 2,000 acres of privately owned land near the city of El Centro in California. The power cables will, however, run over public land, and a total of 19 acres of land have been allocated for the purpose. The project will also contribute towards reducing rate of unemployment in the region, by providing more than 350 jobs. The tax revenue generated by the project will go way over USD 30 million!

Secretary Salazar was visibly satisfied after sanctioning the deal, commenting that “as (US) continues to move thoughtfully and quickly toward a clean energy future, these projects are strengthening local economies by generating good jobs and reliable power.”    

This is not the only project being given the green signal this year, either. Several other large scale projects have been sanctioned by the Federal Government this year, resulting in what some are calling a Green Energy Revolution in the US. As the interest in renewable energy increases among Americans and more citizens start using the technology in their homes as well, solar module manufacturers across the country are likely to have more reasons to celebrate than ever before. Let us hope 2012 makes this wish come true, and takes US yet another step forward, towards eliminating energy crisis across the nation.