BrightSource Energy has appointed Andrew Siegelstein as general manager for the company's subsidiary BrightSource Construction Management Company.

Siegelstein brings more than 32 years of experience in the power and energy industries.

Under Siegelstein's leadership, BrightSource Construction Management Company will oversee and manage the construction of BrightSource Energy's solar energy projects.

Prior to joining BrightSource Energy, Siegelstein served in senior management positions at Shaw, Oxbow, AMEC Paragon and Calpine, where he oversaw the construction of three combined cycle merchant and cogeneration projects in southern California, Texas and Arizona.

According to the company, Siegelstein's appointment, which was based on strong background in engineering, procurement and construction management within the energy industry, marks another key step in BrightSource Energy's path to construct the Ivanpah Solar Power Complex, California's first large-scale commercial solar thermal power plant in nearly three decades.

The Ivanpah Complex will consist of three separate solar plants and will produce a combined total of 400 MW of power, producing enough clean energy to power the homes of 140,000 PG&E customers and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by over 500,000 tons per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2009.