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The California Report | Tue, Sep 23 2008, 8:50 AM

Solar Realities Part II: Rooftop Solar

Two years ago, a law dubbed the "Million Solar Roofs Plan" promised to kick start solar power in California with a set of subsidies designed to make it financially feasible for the little guy. Two years later, there are 36,000 small-scale installations statewide, making California the country's undisputed solar leader. Some say we could be doing even more. In the second half of our Climate Watch series double header on solar power, we take you to the forefront of the debate.

Napa Valley Solar

Take a tour of CADE, a winery run by the sun.
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The California Report | Mon, Sep 22 2008, 8:50 AM

Solar Realities Part I: Supersized Solar Sites

About a week from now, state officials will open the newest version of their playbook to deal with climate change. Part of that plan is to generate a third of California's energy from low-carbon, renewable sources by 2020. That means the first big push toward utility-scale solar power is on. PG&E recently signed a contract to buy energy from what will be the largest solar energy generating site in the world, but some worry that "super-sizing" solar has sparked a land rush that could compromise California deserts. For the first in our new series, Climate Watch, we head to the sun-baked Mojave.

Supersized Solar Sites

Explore an interactive map and photos of the massive solar power plants in the Mojave.
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