http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030103/wl_canada_nm/canada_energy_australia_tower_col_1

This is an article on a project soon to be taking place in Australia. A company called EnviroMission, LTD is planning to build a 1000 m solar tower for generating electricity.

Personally I find the thought of a solar energy project of this magnitude to be fascinating. Could something like this be built in the United States? Where would be the most feasible place to build such a structure to maximize its capability? Does this type of a generating facility have a real future? Or are we going to have to run out of fossil fuels first before something like this is taken seriously?

Why the dessert of Course.

American south West is the most likely spot for a Solar Plant. Long sunnny days, few cloudy days - and large tracts of empty land.

Its a cost thing I fear. A good number of smaller test plants have been built, many more proposed but after the energy crises of the 1970's, interest waned, federal grants were pulled.

It comes down to finances. Not many people are willing to invest.

If a solar plant was proposed in the USA, I would invest in it. But then, I also know that Solar power is the cheapest and most abundant clean power source available at this time.

David