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) 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)