Greetings!
  

  

I recently drove to Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert. It is very tempting to drive very fast when confronted with an empty stretch of two lane blacktop (but the speed limit is 55 miles per hour). The white park ranger trucks have radar and they were having a field day pulling people over. Fortunately, I had my wife as a co-pilot. One of my favorite parts of the drive from Palm Springs to Las Vegas and back is near Primm, Nevada.
  

A technological marvel in the Mojave Desert is getting accolades from around the globe. These articles show some great photos:

 

The World's Largest Solar Plant Started Creating Electricity Today.

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

 

=================================================

Check out a 14 day FREE trial of Tickerscores - Independent coverage of 400+ precious metals stocks in the hottest jurisdictions - The best UX (user experience) that I have ever seen in the mining space.

 =================================================

 

The project received a $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office and cost ~$2.2 billion. I've driven the past this on the I-15 several times while it was under construction. It is just downhill from Mountain Pass, home of the rare earth giant Molycorp (NYSE:MCP).

 

At full capacity (i.e. around noon each day), the facility's three 450-foot high towers will produce 392 megawatts (MW) of solar power. It remains to be seen what the actual performance and longevity of the plant will be.

 

The $2.2 Billion Bird-Scorching Solar Project

 

What the press does not mention is that just across the highway on the Nevada side of the border lies The Walter M. Higgins Generating Station. It recently changed hands for ~$500 million and has a peak capacity of 530 megawatts. It has 99% uptime and runs 24 hours a day. It has a much smaller footprint and its owner, NV Energy actually pays taxes.

 

Most people driving the on the I-15 LA-Vegas corridor will be aware of the Ivanpah Solar Plant, you can't miss it. They won't have a clue about the small black facility just beyond the outlet mall and casinos that sprout up on the Nevada side of the border.

 

   

You can check it all out on Google Maps. Things you can zoom in on include the Ivanpah Solar PlantPrimm Valley Golf Club, evaporation ponds for the Mountain Pass mine, Ivanpah Lake (dry) casinos and outlet mall at Primm, Nevada and The Walter M. Higgins Generating Station. There's a small photovoltaic solar farm just to the north of it. More of them are on the books but they are generating controversy.

 

The Ivanpah Solar project is very cool but expensive. Just like Vegas!

  

Follow me on Twitter

Until next time!

Jim Letourneau 
Editor 
Big Picture Speculator

 
 
The information contained on this e-mail is intended for general information purposes only. I have not taken into account your personal investment situation. Always seek the counsel of a professional financial advisor before making any investment decision.

I may hold positions in the companies mentioned but my holdings may change at any time without notice. I currently own - V.BTI, V.VPT

We believe the sources of information to be reliable but I do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. I expressly disclaim any liability for any errors or omissions that may be contained in this information.