On Dec. 30, 2010, Beautiful Earth (BE), a New York-based clean energy developer, broke ground on the Del Sur Solar power plant in Antelope Valley outside of Lancaster, Calif.

The project, composed of two 19-megawatt facilities, is located on 187 acres of land and will generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes, according to a company press release.

"Beautiful Earth prides itself on leading the way as the cleanest, greenest solar power developer," said BE President and CEO Lex Heslin in the release. "Del Sur Solar represents the culmination of extensive evaluation on hundreds of potential sites in California. We were excited to purchase this prime site in a city that values environmentally sensitive businesses and in an area with one of the best solar resources in the United States."

In the last six months, California’s utility-scale solar projects have come under fire by environmentalists and residents regarding the impact of such large-scale construction projects. However, Del Sur is currently being built on previously distributed agricultural land, according to the release, which the company states is in keeping with BE’s “strict siting criteria.”

In order to have less of an environmental impact, both facilities will required no water to produce energy.

On hand at the facilities’ groundbreaking was Lancaster’s mayor, Rex R. Parris.

"The City of Lancaster welcomes Beautiful Earth Group as a partner in our green initiatives,” said Parris at the groundbreaking. “Del Sur Solar brings Lancaster one step closer toward the goal of becoming the alternative energy capital of the world.”

That’s not hubris coming from Parris.

Lancaster already boasts a few utility-scale solar projects, including ESolar’s 5-megawatt Solar Demonstration plant and Sierra’s Suntower project, which generates enough energy to power 4,000 homes.

Pictured: Mayor Parris helps Beautiful Earth Group break ground at the Del Sur Solar power plant site. From left to right: Beautiful Earth Group President and Chief Executive Officer Lex Heslin, Mayor of Lancaster, CA R. Rex Parris. Photo Credit: Megan Hayes. Lancaster, CA USA.