More green programs planned for U.S. grid

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. government said it approved of a solar plant in California and a wind farm in Oregon that could provide enough energy for 112,500 homes.

U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar announced approval of two renewable energy projects, which would collectively generate about 379 megawatts of power.

"Today's projects are the 26th and 27th renewable energy projects that Interior has advanced in just the last two years," Salazar said in a statement. "As we continue to move thoughtfully and quickly toward a clean energy future, these projects are strengthening local economies by generating good jobs and reliable power."

The solar project, which will be on about 2,000 acres near El Centro, could generate as much as $30 million in tax revenue for California. A wind project proposed for Oregon could generate as much as $4.5 million in local tax revenue.

The Interior Department said that once those projects are running, there would be about 6,600 MW of green energy on the U.S. grid, enough to power 2.3 million homes.

U.S. President Barack Obama set a goal of having 80 percent of the nation's energy needs met by clean energy sources by 2035.