Florida Company Launches Pilot Program to Expand Solar Power

JUNO BEACH, Fla. — In an effort to give more access to solar power options, the Florida Power & Light Company last week proposed a voluntary, community-based, solar partnership pilot program for consideration by the Florida Public Service Commission.

If approved, FPL will install new, solar-powered generating facilities in Florida communities. The program is funded by contributions from FPL customers.

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University Energy Research Measures Climate, New Technology

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), a research unit of the University of Hawai’i Manoa, recently installed six solar photovoltaic arrays as a part of its ongoing energy-efficiency and solar research.

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Bowdoin College to Lead State in Solar Power

BRUNSWICK, Maine — A proposed solar power complex at Bowdoin College will be eight times larger than any solar installation in the state of Maine.

The school’s board of trustees last week approved the 1,300-kW system, set to generate energy for the school’s largest athletic facilities, to create a new standard of sustainability in the state. Currently, Maine’s largest solar installation is Thomas College’s 170-kW system.

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Cedarville University Dedicates Solar Array

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — A large-scale solar power system was dedicated at Cedarville University in Ohio on April 26.

The 2,154-kilowatt solar array will convert sunlight into electricity, which helps meet the campus’ growing power requirements and supplies an average of 10 percent of the school’s energy demand, enough to serve the needs of 250 homes and contribute to cleaner air by removing more than 2,478 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.

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NRG Announces Plan to Buy Yuma Solar Project

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. — NRG Solar announced plans to acquire First Solar’s Agua Caliente solar project in Yuma County. The 290-megawatt installation is expected to be completed by 2014 and will be operated under a 25-year power purchase agreement with energy provider Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Agua Caliente is expected to be the largest photovoltaic installation in the world once it is completed.
 
NRG estimates that at peak capacity, Agua Caliente will generate enough electricity to power more than 225,000 households.

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