Alright, kids, here’s your daily dose of solar- and renewable-energy news…

Chinese solar-panel maker Suntech (NYSE: STP) said that it might reconsider its recent decision to open a manufacturing facility in Goodyear, Arizona, reports the Phoenix Business Journal. In a story we’ve been following, the state legislature is currently considering HB 2701, a bill that would classify nuclear power as a renewable source of electricity as it pertains to the state’s renewable energy standard. Critics say the proposed change could seriously harm solar energy’s prospects in Arizona. Kyocera Solar, which has its U.S. headquarters in Scottsdale, echoed Suntech’s concerns about the House Bill: “It undermines our effort and progress made to create green jobs, and would be a major setback to Arizona’s reputation as a solar industry leader,” said Tom Dyer, senior vice president for the company, in a statement. “Quite simply, this bill does not support growing the local economy, nor does it assist in protecting the environment.” See Vote Solar’s blog for a sharp rebuke of HB2701.

U.S. Department of Energy Head Steven Chu was in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on Monday, according to Zawya. While speaking to Saudi energy ministers, he said he expects the Kingdom to emerge as a major exporter of solar energy. “The kingdom’s drive to invest a portion of its oil revenue on scientific and technical research will enable it to strengthen diversification of energy sources and promote renewable energy programs,” Chu said. Diversification is a perennial issue for Saudi Arabia — or any country with an economy so-dominated by a single commodity, for that matter. While the Kingdom no doubt has enough revenue to invest in developing and deploying solar-energy technologies, something tells me their focus on oil (and gas) won’t wane significantly in coming decades. Just check out the Global Energy Outlook panel discussion from January’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. It’s a little long (55 minutes) and pretty wonkish, but in it you’ll hear Khaled Al-Faleh, Saudi Aramco’s President and CEO, talk about the future of Saudi Arabia’s — and the world’s — energy mix. (Hint: in his assessment, oil and gas ain’t going anywhere.)

Speaking of fossil fuels, a subsidiary of Chevron will build a one-megawatt concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) installation at a mine in New Mexico. As explained by Greentech Media, the plan breaks from Chevron’s business-as-usual approach to solar project development. If built, the project would be the biggest CPV installation in the United States.

In investment news: Via Reuters comes news that Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) has signed a three-year agreement with a German firm to sell 285 megawatts of its solar modules. Another Chinese solar-panel maker, Trina Solar, had a profitable fourth quarter of 2009, according to its press release.

In celeb-wonk news, check out Alec Baldwin’s Op-Ed on the hidden costs of nuclear power, via The Huffington Post. It’s not particularly insightful — essentially Mr. Baldwin asserts that nuclear power has “hidden costs” and is therefore “bad” — but perhaps this is not the point of his piece.

Finally, Suntech is really stirring things up this week: check out this morning’s press release (everyone loves a good press release, right?): “Suntech Power Holdings Co., the world’s largest producer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, has provided the solar panels to power British Columbia’s first net-zero home at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.” At 6 kilowatts (kW), Suntech’s PV system will power the ultra-efficient, 2,200 square-foot showcase home, which some Canadian athletes will call home during the Olympics.

That’s all for this Wednesday. Stay in the know: stay plugged in with GetSolar.