artist rendering: FPL

There are bigger solar projects in the works , but the new Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center near Indiantown, Florida can make a couple of ‘first’ claims (for the time being at least): It is the largest solar thermal plant outside of California; and, is the first hybrid solar power facility in the world to connect to an existing combined-cycle natural gas power plant.

Construction on the 75MW solar thermal plant began yesterday, with the plant expected to come online in 2010. More deta