Solar Tower plan knocked down

Revolutionary plans to get solar energy for Norhtern California have met a stormy ending.

A proposal to drape electricity-generating solar panels over the huge former dirigible hangar at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field won't be pursued because it isn't cost-effective, agency officials say.

Only one company responded to NASA-Ames' request for bids for the project by the Oct. 14 deadline, said Sandy Olliges, deputy director of safety, environmental and mission assurance at Ames.

That firm was Sempra Energy of San Diego. The Sempra proposal concluded the hangar scheme wouldn't generate enough electricity to be worth the investment.

However, Sempra has some nice Mexican LNG they'll sell you!