Not all solar power is photovoltaic.

The first thing that comes to mind is solar tower technology, where an array of mirrors reflect sunlight to a common collection point at the top of a tower where the heat melts a storage medium, frequently saltpeter. The environmental costs here involve building a tall tower, a (large) number of (large) mirrors with electronically controlled servos, and a mass of saltpeter, plus the workings of a steam turbine. Once it is built, there is no fuel needed.

The US has had one of these in operation (as a test) since '78, Spain recently constructed one that is providing 11MW, and South Africa has a plan for a 100MW tower. (In comparison, a typical nuclear reactor or coal-fired plant provides about 1000 MW.)