Check out this website... I especially liked the FAQ section which surprised even me.

http://www.eren.doe.gov/csp/

A solar concentrator that generates the same amount of power as the Hoover Dam would be less than half the size of Lake Mead, which the dam blocks. When you take into account the land used for coal mines, solar concentrators use less land than coal generating stations too. This is a significant fact. I figure that an area about 1/3rd the size of the city of Toronto could supply enough energy to a hydrogen electrolyzer to replace petroleum as the primary fuel for transportation in Canada.

The trouble is Canada has a rather unforgiving climate ranging from a healthy dose of rain & shine, to long cold winters and lots of snow (depending on the surrounding lakes). It would be difficult to justify the cost of a solar concentrator powerplant unless they would work year-round. But I think the main barrier to the use of renewable energy such as solar & wind is deregulation, which prevents renewable energy providers from securing long-term contracts with potential customers. This is needed in order to pay off the high initial cost of the powerplant. The powerplant would last virtually forever guaranteeing profit in fiscal years 8 thru 30. But power companies will always choose coal or diesel instead because they do not have to secure such long term contracts, and they get profit immediately in years 1 through 5. Even if the long term costs of coal or diesel exceed that of a solar concentrator after 10 years, profit is prompt and this represents a heck of a lot less risk in an unregulated economy with dirt-cheap capital equipment.