We've written here and here about the potential for the deserts of Southern California to become Solar Central. Well, the first major project breaks ground today in the desolation of eastern San Bernardino County, only a few miles from Nevada.

If completed, the Ivanpah project and its 346,000 mirrors could generate enough power for 140,000 houses.

The process thus far hasn't always been smooth - there were concerns over the impact on the desert tortoise and the use of federal subsidies, according to this Los Angeles Times account - but the installation could be the first of many that brings thousands of badly needed construction jobs to California.

That alone would be enough to make California a leader in the solar industry, but efforts are also under way to make the west side of the San Joaquin Valley a hub for solar as well.

(photo by greentechmedia)