Workers install mirrors at an eSolar demonstration plant in Lancaster. The city hopes the company will provide jobs for Antelope Valley residents. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Treavon Henry, 20, feeds a bottle of formula to 3-week-old twin Kory while cradling son Kody as he and his girlfriend, Jennifer Schmidt, 19, wait for assistance at the Lancaster Community Shelter. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Henry carries the twins, en route to a motel, where his family will spend the night after receiving a voucher from the shelter. He and his girlfriend haven’t been able to find jobs and recently sold their car for $500 because they needed the money. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Schmidt checks into their room as Henry sits exhausted on the motel lobby floor. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Schmidt kisses Kody after settling into their room. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
ESolar has already hired 225 workers, most of them locals, to install mirrors at the plant, among other tasks. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Workers put the finishing touches on an eSolar thermal solar energy facility with 24,000 mirrors that will produce five megawatts of electricity to power roughly 5,000 homes. Other plants are planned for the Antelope Valley area. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris believes the solar plants could be the catalyst to restoring the sort of intellectual excitement that existed when aerospace was the only game in town. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
