LONG BEACH / NEAR LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — In Long Beach, an unveiling: solar panels have been installed at the airport there. Officials say they will reduce energy consumption and serve as a visible example of alternative energy for travelers. And that’s not the only place where solar power is making a splash. It is a shimmering oasis of clean power in the desert, 32 miles from the glitter of Las Vegas: mirrors that reflect the sun’s heat and generate energy without producing carbon dioxide. ‘It’s zero carbon emissions, so with global warming becoming more and more of an issue, this plant is providing utility-scale renewable energy with no carbon emissions,’ said Peter Duprey, CEO of Accione Energy. The third largest solar power plant in the world – the size of 300 football fields – could help wean Nevada off electricity powered by natural gas and coal. Time lapse photography shows how the mirrors track the sun, warming pipes filled with fluid to 735 degrees. ‘Here we heat something up, generate steam to run a steam turbine, and produce electricity,’ said Bob Cable, Solar One Plant Manager. The pollution-free power is equivalent […]