SEPA: Electric utilities looking to solar

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Electric utility membership in the Solar Electric Power Association is up 45 percent in 2006, SEPA said Monday at the San Jose, Calif., Solar Power confab.

"Whether by choice or by mandate, utilities across the country are beginning to realize that solar-generated electricity can become an important part of their generating portfolio," Julia Judd, the association's executive director, said in a statement. The association cited solar advances in the past year by members such as San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego-based San Diego Gas and Electric and Roseville, Calif.-based Roseville Electric.

PG&E signed a deal to purchase 500 megawatts of concentrating tower solar thermal energy, beginning with a 100-megawatt plant by the end of 2010, and San Diego Gas and Electric bought 300 megawatts worth of concentrating dish solar thermal capacity, the statement said.

"The state of California took significant steps this year to increase utility solar program development, including municipal utilities," Judd said.

SEPA also cited developments outside of California in 2006: Denver-based Xcel Energy announced plans to build an 8-megawatt solar power plant in southern Colorado, and Austin, Texas-based Austin Energy requested proposals for between 15 megawatts and 20 megawatts of solar electricity, according to the statement.