What’s the skinny on solar energy today? A San Diego solar installer pulls a reverse merger (and drives to the hoop). SunEdison has plans for a dozen solar projects in Italy, when it should, in our professional opinion, aim for a baker’s dozen. A Hawaii solar installation company hits a momentous milestone. And Florida researchers are trying to learn from the photon-trapping properties of purple ectoplasm — or something. Keep reading for details and sources…

Envison Solar, a San Diego solar installation and design company, has gone public, via Sign on San Diego. Envision’s owners purchased a publicly traded firm, Casita Enterprises, then merged it with their company. This so-called “reverse merger” allows Envision stock to be traded over the counter. Boring details aside, the San Diego-based solar company has its sights set on becoming the leader in designing and installing solar energy systems at parking lots across the country. Already, Envision has installed nine megawatts’ worth.

In Hawaii solar news, Hawaii Energy Connection today announced it has installed its 300th solar electric system using Enphase Microinverters, via MarketWire. Pop quiz: What is a microinverter? Microinverters transform the direct current (DC) produced by the solar panel into alternating current (AC), which is what powers our toasters, computers, iPods, what have you. Unlike conventional inverters — which are big and, in the case of solar home systems, invert the electricity at a single point within the system — microinverters are (you guessed it) small. Placed on each individual solar panel, they do the DC-to-AC inversion at as many different points as there are panels. Anyway, I digress. Congrats to the Hawaii Energy Connection staff on their 300th Hawaii solar installation!

SunEdison, a division of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE:WFR), has announced plans to develop a dozen one-megawatt (mW) solar energy installations in Italy, according to Recharge.

The Web is a buzz this morning with talk of purple bacteria. After some serious research, I discovered the origin: a press release from the University of Miami. Researchers there are studying purple bacteria in the search for an improved photosynthetic design that could have useful applications in the human world. They recently published an article outlining their findings, brining a new meaning to purple stuff.

The Toledo Blade on Friday reported that First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) is aiming to open a new manufacturing facility, via Today’s Energy Solutions. The Tempe, Arizona-based maker of thin-film solar — which operates a facility in Perrysburg Township, Ohio — has yet to confirm a location for the new plant:

“We haven’t chosen a country or even a part of the world yet. And we don’t have a timeline on a decision for where the plant will go,” said Alan Bernheimer, a spokesman for First Solar, which began in Toledo and later moved its headquarters to Arizona. … “All our plants are at full capacity right now,” Mr. Bernheimer said. “We are capacity constrained, which is why we need another plant.”

Finally today, in Arizona solar news: Arizona Public Service (APS) has dropped its solar rebate to $1.95 per watt, via Solar Industry. The Arizona Corporation Commission, a state regulator, has approved the move. Despite the new, lower rebate level, a home solar electric system in APS service territory may still make good financial sense. The best way to find out whether solar makes sense for your home in Arizona — or wherever you may live, for that matter — is to speak with a solar energy specialist.

That’s all for today — thanks for reading. We’ll see you back here tomorrow.