Giant solar plant on verge of $1.6 billion boondoggle

NEW YORK – Last month, the California Public Utilities Commission spared from shutdown yet another solar power plant that would have cost U.S. taxpayers the loss of $1.6 billion in Department of Energy loan guarantees. California Public Utilities Commission, in a unanimous vote taken without discussion, conceded to a request by PG&E Corporation to grant Ivanpah…