The Solana Generating Station, which will be built at anestimated cost of $4,000 per megawatt, could generate up to $4billion in revenue over a 30-year period in electricity sales toArizona Public Service. It's also projected to bring more than $1billion of economic benefits to the state. The plant will be builtabout 70 miles southwest of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 8and Painted Rock Dam Road and generate enough power for 70,000homes.

According to a press release, an estimated 1,500 constructionworkers will build the plant, with 85 permanent employees needed tooperate it. Kate Maracas, vice president of Denver-based Abengoa'sArizona operations, says construction will begin in second quarter2009, allowing the plant to come on line in 2011.

Maracas tells GlobeSt.com that Gila Bend made sense for AbengoaSolar's first US plant because of its proximity to rail, highwayand water resources. "It's currently an agricultural property, withsufficient water to cool the power plant," she explains. "It's alsoin a location where we're not disturbing anything environmentally."The plant will employ a proprietary Concentrating Solar Powertrough technology developed by Abengoa Solar.