The Kingman Miner newspaper reports that a 340-megawatt solar power electricity plant is planned 27 miles northwest of Kingman. Mohave Sun Power will use parabolic trough technology to heat oil in tubes to generate steam to make electricity. Excess heat will be stored in molten salt for use at peak demand times.
This is the same technology proposed by Albiasa Solar for its 200-megawatt plant in the region [right, credit Albiasa Corp].
The Mohave plant is expected to use 1,500 to 2,000 acre-feet of water per year to wash the collectors and generate steam, which is raising some concerns locally. The $2.1 billion solar project will be one of the largest in the world. Electricity will be sold to the highest bidder. Construction would start in late 2010 and be complete in late 2013