California’s California Energy Commission on Aug. 25 gave final approval to the nation’s first large-scale solar thermal project in 20 years—and at 250 megawatts (MWs) it’s a whopper! The Beacon Solar Energy Project has gone through a two-and-a-half-years of regulatory hurdles, according to The New York Times. But its likely the first in a number of projects that will quickly be licensed to commence construction in California.

The commission is busy evaluating, giving preliminary approval and listening to public commentary on a total of 4 gigawatts (GWs) of proposed large-scale solar projects. The projects are facing two important deadlines, federal credits and incentives related to the stimulus package expire at the end of 2010. And California’s major utilities must source 20 percent of their total electricity generation from renewable resources by the end of 2010. It’s the first major step in the state’s push to reach its renewable energy portfolio, which requires utilities to get 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. If all the projects in California are approved, they would triple the amount of solar electricity being generated in the entire United States.

The commission unanimously approved licensing the Beacon Solar Energy Project in eastern Kern County on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. In a press release, Energy Commission Chairman Karen Douglas said, "Today's action begins the journey of increasing clean renewable energy in California."

The project will be built, owned and operated by Beacon Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. The solar thermal project will use parabolic troughs to superheat liquid in tubes that will produce enough heat to convert water into the steam that will power steam turbines generating 250 MWs of power. The parabolic troughs will cover 2,012 acres of former farmland.

“I hope this is the first of many more large-scale solar projects we will permit,” commission member Jeffrey Byron said during the Aug. 25 hearing. “This is exactly the type of project we want to see.”

At this point, the project is still in the final negotiations with a utility to purchase the power, Scott Busa, project manager of the Beacon project, told The New York Times.