Today’s installment of the Solar Power Rundown will be abbreviated because, let’s be honest, everyone has already checked out for the long Memorial Day Weekend. Without further ado…

In New Jersey solar news, Green Power, an Atlantic City project developer, announced it’s pursuing a 74.6-megawatt solar installation that would, according to New Jersey Room, be the largest solar power plant on the east coast.

North Carolina could get 14 percent of its electricity from solar, according to a new report by Environment NC, a non-profit advocacy group, via Greensboro News & Record. According to the group’s assumptions, the state could also create some 28,000 jobs by supporting the North Carolina solar industry. What’s more, the press release is not without snappy sound bytes: “Everyone knows solar energy is clean. There has never been a solar spill,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, State Director of Environment North Carolina and co-author of the report. “The sun is abundant and free in North Carolina.  That’s why capturing it can create tens of thousands of jobs right here that can’t be outsourced.”

Speaking of spills, the Gulf of Mexico accident on April 20th has resulted in what scientists believe to be the worst oil spill in U.S. history, via the Los Angeles Times. BP has scrambled to halt the flow of oil from a broken undersea well, having most recently attempted a “top kill” procedure that involved pumping a heavily drilling liquid, or “mudl,” into the well. It’s not yet clear whether this latest attempt will meet with success. On a more somber note, the WSJ has an interactive feature on the victims of the oil rig accident.

In Colorado solar news, Paul Spencer, President of the Clean Energy Collective, defends the green credentials of Holy Cross, a Colorado electricity utility, via Vail Daily. There has been drama in the pages, it seems: “I am perplexed to see the recent comments about Holy Cross Energy and its board of directors in our newspapers, and, in particular, the lack of facts to support the various views. My only explanation is that those who make the comments either haven’t taken the time to properly research Holy Cross’ environmental and clean energy support record or want to ignore this officially published and measured data…” Oh snap! I love it when smart people throw down on the Op-Ed pages of the newspaper.

Finally today, it seems fitting to end the week with some veterans-related news. The latest in an ongoing effort to equip VA hospitals with solar panels (see here and here), the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $15-million contract for the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Albuquerque’s VA hospital, via Veterans Today. The New Mexico solar installation could be as large as 3.2 megawatts.

That’s all for this Friday. Hope everyone has a safe, relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. We’ll see you back here next week.