Arizona may become Persian Gulf of solar energy

Abengoa Solar, a Spanish company, is planning to take 3 square miles of desert southwest of Phoenix and turn them into one of the largest solar power plants in the world.

The company, which has plants in Spain, northern Africa and other parts of the U.S., could begin construction as early as next year on the 280-megawatt plant in Gila Bend — a small, dusty town 50 miles southeast of Phoenix. There will be enough energy to supply up to 70,000 homes at full capacity.

Unlike most solar energy, the plant  will use the sun’s heat, not its light, to produce power. Gila Bend can get as hot as 120 degrees in the summer. Thousands of giant mirrors will be used to harness the sun’s heat. That will heat up liquids, which will spin turbines — just like coal or other power plants but without the pollution.

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