Taking only 7 months to finish building here is California’s First Solar Thermal Plant in 20 Years which will be providing power for over 3,000 homes with 5mw of energy. The plant uses 1,000 foot long mirrors to convert the suns rays into energy. This plant uses a technology called compact linear fresnal reflectors and what that does is it focuses the suns rays onto tubes of water causing the water to heat up and creates steam which drives the power turbines to create electricity.