An Arizona-based solar power developer has received a $100 million (¤63 million) investment from an Irish company to build two huge plants in Southern California, according to The Associated Press. Stirling Energy Systems Inc. said Thursday the funding from NTR PLC would pay for all pre-construction costs for plants in the Imperial Valley and Mojave Desert. NTR will take a controlling interest in Stirling. Stirling has signed agreements to sell its power to San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison. The two projects together will initially produce 800 megawatts of power and up to 1,750 megawatts eventually. The projects will use a commercially untested technology that calls for building thousands of solar dishes in the desert.