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Making the best use of sunshine. . . . On the heels of the February opening of the world's largest solar power plant , Arco has announced it will build yet another even bigger solar plant.

Arco Solar Inc. has agreed to build a 16.5 megawatt photovoltaic plant in central California and sell the electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). Arco's first solar power plant, currently the world's largest, generates one megawatt. By comparison, when both reactors at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant are working at full capacity, they will generate 2,190 megawatts.

PG&E has acquired 640 acres near San Luis Obispo for the solar project, which will convert sunlight directly into enough electricity to serve 6,400 households. Arco, which will build, own, and operate the facility and sell the electricity to PG&E, expects the first building phase to be completed within a year.

It is seeking investor financing for the second phase of the project.m