Another company embraces solar

Here's another example of a major corporation jumping onto the solar bandwagon.

AT&T plans six projects throughout California that amount to 2 megawatts, officials said today.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders was on hand to flip the switch at one of them, a 296-kilowatt roof-top installation in his city. The projects will be installed with solar energy services provider SunEdison and be completed by the end of next year.

While relatively small by corporate standards, the projects add to an increasing stable by major U.S. companies. Wal-Mart has undertaken a significant energy efficiency role with its facilities and those of its suppliers and says that it plans to eventually get 100 percent of its energy from renewable resources.

And other companies and governments are increasingly interested in offsetting electrical costs through sun power. The Gap has a 1-megawatt system spanning about 5 acres in Fresno, while California State University, Fresno added solar to covered parking and the airport installed solar to offset its costs.

Sanders said solar makes sense. "Our residents and businesses have embraced clean energy, which not only benefits our environment, but also our region's economy," he said.

Green jobs -- they just make sense.

Photo: Solar at Fresno State.