It is reported that First Solar Inc's 550 MW Desert Sunlight project will be located on 4,100 acres of public lands in the California desert, east of Palm Springs.

First Solar will have a right of way grant to use the land for 30 years. The facility, which is to be built in two phases, will employ First Solar Cd Te thin film solar modules that will combine to generate enough electricity to power 110,000 homes. The electricity generated from Phase I (300 MW) will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric, while electricity produced at Phase II will be sold to Southern California Edison.

The Department of Energy is supporting the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm as well. In June 2011, the DOE granted three First Solar solar developments a combined USD 4.5 billion in loan guarantees. The Desert Sunlight project's share is USD 1.88 billion. According to BLM, the project will inject USD 336 million into the local economy and generate USD 27 million in sales and property tax revenue to Riverside County.

The Department of Interior's approval comes with little surprise. In March 2011, the Department said that it would give 19 proposed renewable energy projects priority when considering proposals to develop on public land, the Desert Sunlight project was among these. The solar farm will also sit in a designated solar zone which the Federal Government established in December of 2010. The decision marks the third solar project in 2011 that the BLM has offered right-of-way to build on public lands.

Mr Ken Salazar secretary of interior said that "The Desert Sunlight Solar Farm is the largest photovoltaic facility Interior has approved thus far and, when built, will help power our nation and economy."

He added that "With 12 large-scale solar projects approved in the last 18 months, we continue to make significant strides in spurring innovation, job creation, and investment in the private sector while strengthening America's energy security."