ESolar gets $130 mln from Google, others

LOS ANGELES, April 21 (Reuters) - Solar thermal company eSolar said on Monday it closed $130 million in funding from Google Inc's (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) philanthropy arm and other investors.

The funds will be used to build and deploy solar thermal power plants to supply utilities with clean, renewable power, the company said in a statement. It plans to have a fully operational plant in Southern California later this year.

Google.org, technology incubator Idealab, Oak Investment Partners and other investors contributed to the funding, Pasadena, California-based eSolar said. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; editing by John Wallace)