As California’s 20 percent by 2011 renewable portfolio deadline approaches, a flurry of solar permitting is under way in the state. Most recently, the California Energy Commission proposed approval of the Genesis Solar Energy Project, a 250 megawatt (MW) solar thermal trough project, which will be located near Blythe, Calif. Overall the commission has given preliminary approval to roughly 2.1 gigawatts (GW), 2,120 MW, of solar power projects over the past few weeks, some of which could begin construction later in 2010. Before the commission can make its final decision and allow the projects to move forward, each is subject to a 30-day public comment period after which the commission will render its final decision.

The commission is considering another 1.9 GW of solar installations as of August 2010. All told, the projects represent a full 4 GW of new solar energy generation in the United States. Alone, the 2.1 GW nearing final approval would more than double the amount of active solar power in the United States.

The Genesis project will consist of two 125 MW steam turbines. A vast series of parabolic, mirrored troughs will concentrate solar energy on tubes filled with a liquid like molten salt in a closed-loop system. The closed loops pass through a heat exchanger where they will superheat water into steam, which will be used to generate electricity.

The Genesis project will be built on roughly 1,800 acres of Sonoran desert land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and will have a significant environmental impact, according to the commission. But the commission found that the benefits of the project outweigh any damage it will cause where it’s installed. If approved, it could start producing electricity for the grid by 2013.

While Genesis is a huge solar project, the energy commission is considering larger projects. Among them is the proposed 968 MW Blythe Solar Power project, which received preliminary approval earlier in August and would be the world’s largest solar plant. The other projects awaiting final approval are the 370 MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Project, the 250 MW Abengoa Mojave Solar Project, and the 250 MW Beacon Solar Energy Project.