Mojave Desert solar plant pulls plug. Fails to deliver, murders 6K birds annually.

How much energy did it ever produce?

If this is one of those setups where they focus the sun on a tower with mirrors then this isn't the first of these to fail. There was one, I think in Australia, that almost burnt down the tower because some mirrors malfunctioned.

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The $2.2 billion facility was developed by BrightSource Energy and Bechtel.[14] The largest investor in the project was NRG Energy which contributed $300 million. Google contributed $168 million.[15] The United States government provided a $1.6 billion loan guarantee and the plant is built on public land.[16] In 2010, the project was scaled back from its original 440 MW design to avoid disturbing the habitat of the desert tortoise.

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The plant’s co-owner NRG Energy announced in January 2025 it was unwinding contracts with power companies and, subject to regulatory approval, would begin closing the plant in early 2026, readying the site to potentially be repurposed for a new kind of solar energy. [8][19] NRG declined to say how much of the $1.6bn loans guaranteed by the government remained unpaid as of 2025.

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Should have spent that money in SC on our nuclear energy.

if solar can't make power in the freaking desert then you know it will never be viable.

This is the third solar thermal attempt that’s failed. It’s time to give it up.

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if solar can't make power in the freaking desert then you know it will never be viable.

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This isn’t traditional PV solar. They have giant mirror towers. They’re an o&m nightmare and it’s a great way to destroy the one thing that solar kicks everyone else’s arse and that’s o&m.

Bird flies through focused beam and pftt! It is roasted. These solar dudes are cruel bastards.

Meanwhile in Kentucky 16,000 elk roam on reclaimed coal mines.

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More propaganda from the guy who makes his living pimping alternative energy.

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You have no clue what I do.

Thermal solar is fricking retarded, like offshore wind. Everyone knows this