LAS VEGAS -- Nevada may soon become the leader of the clean energy revolution. The first solar thermal power plant in the U.S. opens in Las Vegas Monday.

The 130,000 square foot facility is highly automated and will supply the reflectors, absorber tubes and other key components of Ausra's Solar Thermal Power Plants.

It is capable of manufacturing up to 700 megawatts annually and creates thousands of jobs in the Valley.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will tour the new facility Monday afternoon. He said this solar plant will help position Nevada as the premiere place to invest in these new technologies.

Company developers are planning over $50 billion of future solar power plants in southern Nevada alone.

For more information about the plant and what it provides, visit the Ausra's Web site.