CleanTech OC Daily - 5/21/12

Feds Provide $1M for Clean Energy Expo at Great Park
The US Department of Energy has awarded the Orange County Great Park a $1 million grant to go toward the 2013 Solar Decathlon. An initial payment of $375,000 will be accepted to fund programming and sponsorship planning, as well as a finalized site plan.

Scotland’s One & Only Tidal Power Generator Now Providing Electricity to Eday Island

ScottishPower Renewables’ tidal power project, a 1-MW underwater turbine, has successfully completed an initial testing period and is now providing electricity to homes and business. The concept of generating power from the natural movement of the tides is relatively new but the results from this project are proving to be an important step toward commercial size developments in the future.

100,000 California Homes to be Powered by New Geothermal
The John L. Featherstone Plant, one of two new 49.9-MW geothermal plants, is now operating in Imperial Valley, California. The plant is the first of its kind built in over 20 years in the area and will generate enough power for 50,000 homes. A second 49.9-MW geothermal project (Hudson Ranch II) is slated to begin in 2013, with a 2015 finish date – the second plant will add  50,000 homes-worth of power.