At the world's largest solar power plant near Barstow , an explosion occurred two years ago as third and third natural gas-fired oil heaters were being brought on line. 8 of the heaters, used to back up the solar heating system, exploded as a result of equipment malfunction and set fire to a third , which also exploded. Two plant workers suffered minor breathing problems. Fire and plant officials disagreed on whether smoke from the burning oil was carcinogenic. Flanagan said the black smoke from an estimated 15,000 gallons of burning synthetic oil was not any more toxic than smoke from natural crude or refined oil and was not carcinogenic. The Harper Lake plant is operated by LUZ International , which operates 8 such plants in the California desert and had a fire at another solar plant Wednesday .
At the world's largest solar power plant near Barstow , an explosion occurred two years ago as third and third natural gas-fired oil heaters were being brought on line. 8 of the heaters, used to back up the solar heating system, exploded as a result of equipment malfunction and set fire to a third , which also exploded. Two plant workers suffered minor breathing problems. Fire and plant officials disagreed on whether smoke from the burning oil was carcinogenic. The Harper Lake plant is operated by LUZ International , which operates 8 such plants in the California desert and had a fire at another solar plant Wednesday .