Here’s your daily dose of solar news, starting the week off right.

Spanish solar energy company T-Solar SA is planning an IPO as it views international expansion, via the Wall Street Journal. T-Solar develops solar projects and makes thin-film amorphous solar modules.

The Florida Solar Energy Center will receive $10 million in federal stimulus funds, thanks to Florida governor Charlie Crist. The funds will be used to install 10 kw solar energy systems in schools across the state that have been designated as emergency shelters; usually generators are the power source of choice for emergency use because battery storage for solar is so expensive, but hey, this works too. But come on, Crist, get a new state-wide solar incentive in place already!

Ever wanted to be a solar installer? Texas group ONTILITY is now offering an online solar installation training course, says Solar Industry magazine. This NABCEP-approved course joins the ranks of programs offered by the likes of Solar Energy International and the Solar Living Institute, two industry stalwarts.

Maybe ONTILITY was all excited by the contents of a study done by advocacy group Environmental Texas that points up the Lone Star State’s enormous solar potential. The report came out last week but the Forth Worth Business Press offers  a good summary of the report today. GetSolar’s Adam Sewall has been covering pro-solar events in Texas–see here and here, for instance.

Certainly Texas is in the spotlight today: Joule Biotechnologies, Inc., announced today that the company will use a facility in Leander as a pilot plant for its solar-powered ethanol production process (via Cleantechnica). Leander’s not far from Austin, which makes a pretty decent suite of green building, energy efficiency, and solar energy incentives available to its residents (just ask DSIRE).

If you’ve already got your solar installer creds, here’s one for your wish-list: the second generation of Solmetric’s SunEye was released today. Evaluating sun angle and shade factors on-site will be easier than ever. (If not cheap…)

And Happy President’s Day, everyone. Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House; they only lasted a few years before politics got them taken down again, but raise your hand if you want to see Obama bring them back.