Colorado’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to date is slated for construction in Alamosa County and begin, if all goes according to plan, will be producing power by the beginning of 2011.

The Greater Sandhill Solar Project, as it is called, will be built by SunPower Corporation and have a generating capacity of 17 megawatts (MW) — enough to power roughly the equivalent of 6,700 average American homes for a full year. When completed, it could be the second largest solar PV plant in the United States, according to the Valley Courier, local newspaper in Alamosa County. That’s a title the project won’t enjoy for too long, however, as many larger projects are in the works in other states, like California.

The project’s origins go back to 2008, when Xcel Energy requested proposals for a PV plant in Colorado. SunPower’s proposal, apparently, was the most enticing. Then roughly two weeks ago the wheels really started turning. That’s when SunPower representatives held an open informational session with residents of the san Luis Valley to review the details of the plan. A public hearing between SunPower and Alamosa County commissioners is scheduled for mid-November, and construction should begin shortly after that. The plant is predicted to create roughly 50 new clean energy jobs in Colorado.

Another sign of progress came today, when Wilmington Trust announced it will serve as collateral agent for the Greater Sandhill Solar Project, meaning it will be responsible before the receipt, transfer, distribution and investment of funds pertaining to the project.

As noted above, Greater Sandhill may not hold claim to being Colorado’s largest farm for long. Iberdrola Renewables is already planning a PV project within the state that expected to have a 30-MW generating capacity. It will be built in two phases, and though Iberdrola is still seeking permits to build on public lands, it plans to begin construction next summer.

When it comes to solar power, sometimes seeing is believing. Solar panels can — and do — deliver reliable electricity cost savings, month over month, year over year.

So if you’ve never seen a residential solar electric system in action (yes, it’s fun to watch the meter run backwards), be sure to check out a solar home tour near you this weekend.

What?

The National Solar Tour, sponsored each fall by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).

When?

Saturday, October 2.

Where?

Hopefully in your neighborhood! Find a solar home tour near you.

Who?

You. Your family. Your friends. Your dog. Pretty much anyone and everyone with a curiosity about solar energy.

Why?

It’s fun, free and educational. Plus, I think some tours involve snacks and/or picnics. What more could you ask for? So get out there and soak up the sun!

Awhile back, New York Light Energy — a New York solar installation company — approached Mooradians Furniture in upstate New York. The idea? Install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems atop two of the furniture company’s locations in upstate New York. Now, with the solar panels installed, Moordians is looking forward to saving $500,000 in utility bills over the next 20 years.

Bill Mooradian, the owner of Mooradians Furniture, is excited about both the cost savings and environmental impact of the installation:

“The work done by Alex Lieb and New York Light Energy was professional and efficient, as were the services provided by our partners. The savings to our company will be substantial over the years, but the effect on the environment is equally important.”

Together, the two systems have a generating capacity of 80.64-kilowatts (kW), making it the largest solar energy system for a non-utility company in all of New York. The panels will produce around 98,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually — enough to power the equivalent of just over five average American homes for a full year.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) contributed $150,00 to the project to help offset the upfront cost. The 768 solar panels for the two installations combined were manufactured by Kycocera Solar Inc.

Environmentalists and solar energy advocates are no doubt joining the tens of thousands of New York Jets fans on NFL Sundays, chanting in unison: “J!-E!-T!-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!”

That’s because this year, the Jets (and Giants) moved into their new home New Meadowlands Stadium, which was built using 40,000 tons of recycled steel and features solar panels and energy-efficient light bulbs. But that wasn’t enough for the Jets, who have a plan in place to make the organization as green as the classic jerseys the team sports on the field.

Part of that plan includes a recently installed solar electric system that sits atop the team’s training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey. The 3,000-panel system is expected to produce 750,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar energy annually — enough juice to power nearly 50 average American homes for a full year. The system will also save the Jets tens of thousands of dollars every year in electricity costs and slash CO2 emissions by 540 metric tons annually.

The panels were made by China-based Yingli Solar and the system will be owned and operated by Syncarpha Capital. The Jets have already signed a long-term power purchasing agreement (PPA) through which the team will purchase all of the energy produced by the system.

A Florida-based solar power project developer aims to build a 20-megawatt (MW) solar installation in California, according to a recent press release.

While the exact location and cost of constructing the park has not been released, Solar Park Initiatives (SPI) has signed a letter of intent to develop the photovoltaic (PV) park on 285 acres of land and sell the clean energy to the local utility company through a long term power purchasing agreement (PPA). The letter of intent does not disclose when construction will begin, but SPI’s CEO David Surette is confident that the project will become a reality:

“Solar Park Initiatives continues to search for good opportunities in the solar sector and develop land for its optimal use and value. This is one opportunity we anticipate completing, keeping investors abreast of our milestones.”

The project is expected to generate $70 million in revenue, according to the company executives.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania legislatures and school boards are serious about implementing solar energy at schools. So serious, in fact, that some officials are endeavoring to put the practice into law.

In New Jersey, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora is the leading sponsor of  Bill A1084, which would require any new school construction plans to include a solar energy system. The Department of Education in Pennsylvania is likewise taking matters into its own hands. This coming Friday, the department will introduce changes to its school construction policies that are said to knock down some of the barriers school districts face when considering green investments.

Solar industry officials largely agree that schools are among the best candidates for both financial and physical reasons. Solar energy systems atop schools still produce power during the summertime when school is out and the power is not being used. That allows schools to sell their excess energy back to the local utility company. The systems provide reliable savings and revenue — a huge draw for New Jersey schools, which badly need financial support, according to state Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes, who supports Guscoria’s bill. Physically, the flat, open rooftops of most schools are well suited for solar energy systems.

That’s not always the case, however. According to Philly.com, New Jersey may have an easier time passing its measure than Pennsylvania. A main sticking point in New Jersey seems to be how to best handle cases in which a given school is not a good candidate for solar panel installation. If a school’s roof is shaded, for instance, the policy would have to allow for exceptions or work around solutions.

While California has established a solar schools program to promote the use of solar power in public schools, New Jersey would be the first state in the country to require solar energy atop its schools.

Despite all the growing interest in solar energy, the fact remains that only one percent of the energy produced in the United States comes via solar power.

Generally speaking, the upfront costs associated with installing a residential solar system remain relatively high — a hindrance to many. In a bid to help more homeowners install solar panels, a number of companies have in recent years developed solar lease options.

Alteris Renewables, a leading renewable energy company in the northeast, has just joined the fray by unveiling a new option to install solar energy systems for no money down.

The primary goal of Alteris is bring solar energy to as many people as possible. Eliminating the up-front cost will certainly help to that end, as consumers will still be able to take advantage of incentive programs and save money on utility bills. But Ron French, President of Alteris Renewables, sees other benefits, too, as he said via a recent press statement.

“It is more affordable than ever for homeowners to go green with solar power,” said French. “By having finance options that allow residential customers to take advantage of state and federal incentives without a significant cash outlay, we are eliminating cost as a hurdle for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint and their dependence on fossil fuels.”

Alteris’ program is the first “zero down” solar purchase program available to homeowners in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) on Thursday approved a rule requiring state utility companies to get a third of their electricity from solar power, wind and other renewable sources by 2020. While the decision is not legally binding — and the one-third provision may be suspended if a controversial measure, Proposition 23, is passed in November — the board’s vote is a hopeful sign that California won’t abandon its commitment to clean energy.

“It does send another positive signal that California is being agressive [about renewable energy policy],” Catharina Saponar, a renewable energy analyst at Nomura Holdings, told Bloomberg.

California’s main renewable energy standard is underpinned by Assembly Bill 32, which calls for the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels over a number of decades. In September of last year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order raising the renewable energy standard from 20 percent to 33 percent. With a changing of the guard coming next year, the executive order would relapse without further action. And since utilities are already closing in on the 20 percent mark, raising the renewable energy standard is, by most measures, seen as critical to maintaing growth in California’s clean energy industry. Arizona’s clean energy sector would likewise take a hit if California were to pause its standard at 20 percent, which, as noted above, is the aim of Proposition 23.

ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols had the following to say about yesterday’s unanimous vote in favor of maintaining the 33 percent standard:

“The Renewable Electricity Standard means cleaner energy for California’s households and businesses.  It will help clean our air and bring new solar and wind energy facilities to California with thousands of jobs in construction, operation and spin off industries. This standard is going to further diversify and secure our energy supply while also growing California’s leading green technology market, which will lead to cost savings for consumers.”

For more information, see the ARB’s press release.

Through a unanimous 5-0 vote on Wednesday, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the construction of a 370-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy plant in the Mojave Desert. If built, the project could power the equivalent of 140,000 California homes each year.

The seal of approval punctuates the end of a somewhat drawn out process, one that involved a number of environmental impact analyses, periods for public comment and open discussion about the project’s potential merits. In the end, with all factors considered, the CEC saw the plant as doing more harm than good — particularly given that BrightSource, the project developer, revised the original plan to better take environmental concerns into consideration.

The company will, for instance, will take steps to reduce the need to bulldoze large amounts of desert land. BrightSource, according to the California Press Enterprise, will also deploy air-cooled solar power technologies in an effort to conserve water.

In the end, all five of the state’s energy commissioners voted to give the $2 billion project the green light, seeing the project as a way to promote clean energy sources, strengthen the state economy with new jobs and help California meet its renewable energy targets. There are still, believe it or not, more steps to be taken before construction actually begins. BrightSource is requesting roughly $1.4 billion in federal loans in order to carry out the project. The project must also earn federal approve before construction begins. If all goes as planned construction should start by the end of this calendar year.