It's not just homeowners and businesses that are adopting solar power - government institutions like prisons are looking to green their operations and reduce energy costs, as well. The federal correctional institution in Fairton, New Jersey is the latest prison to go solar.

Vanguard Energy Partners, an East Coast solar installer focused on large-scale projects, announced Monday that FCI-Fairton had deployed a 402-kilowatt solar array. The solar energy system will slash the prison's fossil fuel-derived energy use by 27 percent and reduce its carbon emissions by 790,000 pounds each year.

The installation of the array had a third benefit, prison warden Paul Schultz said. "We were able to provide our inmates with the opportunity to work on the project and gain skills training in the green industry," he indicated.

Schools and universities are also discovering that solar energy can provide educational opportunities. When a school installs a solar power system, pupils can learn about the benefits of renewable power; universities that put solar panels on campus can help their students prepare for green jobs.

FCI-Fairton's array illustrates that solar power has myriad benefits.