U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is promoting federally-backed solar energy projects in Nevada.
Salazar is scheduled to visit the first utility-scale solar power plant constructed on public lands Tuesday morning in Jean near the California border.
The plant developed by First Solar of Tempe, Ariz., is expected to begin sending energy into the grid in December. It will provide power for at least 9,000 homes.
Salazar is pushing large scale solar power plants on public lands and has already approved at least 12 such projects.
President Barack Obama's administration says investing in green technology will create jobs and help the stalled economy turn around.
Roughly 200 construction workers are installing photovoltaic panels at the 50-megawatt southern Nevada facility.
