A new middle school in Texas will derive most of its energy from solar power, according to a recent report by the Star-Telegram.

Federal stimulus funds will be used to cover installation costs for the project, which is aimed at reducing energy bills for the district. The $2 million grant is administered by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.

The number of solar panels and type of system have not yet been determined. The project, which aims to have a 500-kilowatt capacity, will be constructed atop a replacement campus for Carroll Middle School. This solar power may trim the district's energy bills by $76,000 a year, according to the report, and further its budget-tightening efforts.

"Any maintenance and operations dollars we save is something we don't have to cut," Superintendent David Faltys told the newspapers. "We want to make sure we're being good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

If the solar system creates more power than the building requires, this electricity can be sent back to the grid. This can be used to earn credit on the district's energy costs...

A California-based solar company may move its manufacturing stateside thanks to $24.7 million in federal stimulus funds.

According to a recent announcement, Solar Power, Inc. will also use the recovery zone faclity bonds to construct a Sacramento photovoltaic solar farm with capacity exceeding 10 megawatts. Together, these projects would create jobs for Sacramento County.

"Expanding our manufacturing base to California will significantly enhance our ability to meet growing demand for our solar system development expertise and our top-ranked solar panels across the U.S.," Steve Kircher, Chairman and CEO for Solar Power, Inc. said.

Solar Power, Inc. was founded in 2005 and currently produces its solar panels at a manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, China. The company installed solar electric systems on a juvenile detention center, a housing development a theatre and more...

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In yet another instance of using solar power to operate utilities like water and wastewater treatment plants, the City of Peoria (Maricopa County, Arizona) recently announced the completion of its $510,000 solar array at the city’s water reclamation facility.

Funding was provided through a loan from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, or ARRA, and the 60-kilowatt system is expected to deliver at least one-fourth of the energy needed to operate the facility...