Environmental Leader

Companies are lining up to take part in distributed solar power arrays, with nearly 1,300 megawatts worth of such deals announced in recent weeks, reports the New York Times.

Utilities are encouraging the deals, because they have been mostly thwarted in attempts to build giant solar plants in the desert Southwest.

Distributed solar relies on a number of smaller rooftop and ground-mount arrays located near transmission lines. The 1,300 MW in distributed solar roughly equals the output of a large nuclear plant, according to the article.

Entities driving the change include Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and New York Power Authority.

Southern California Edison has a program to install 500 MW worth of solar on commercial rooftops. A similar program may be in the works from PG&E.

In Sacramento, a 100 MW program is already full. Companies could sign up to build photovoltaic projects of up to 5 MW each.

The New York Power Authority has its own 100 MW program, with bidding on spots coming March 2.

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