Ivanpah Solar Electric station is shutting down

Way out in the Mojave Desert, adjacent to Death Valley, lies one of the most beautiful solar energy generating stations in the US called Ivanpah.

The whole complex consists of 3 major units all reflecting solar light towards a center tower receiver. If you drive by it on a sunny day, the towers have this magnificent glow that can be seen for miles.

The project was completed back in 2014 and at a cost of about $2.2 billion and is reported to be one of the largest solar facilities in the world. I visited this place back in 2022 and marveled at this feat of engineering up close, surprised mostly at the time that I could drive so close to it without any security run-ins.

Today, 2 of those 3 towers are closing, with the 3rd one in danger of shutting down as well.