Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $46 million has been awarded under his NY-Sun initiative for solar energy projects that will add 52 megawatts to the state’s solar capacity. This announcement follows a year of significant growth for solar installations in the state as a result of the NY-Sun initiative.

Solar Energy International (SEI) announced that it is expanding its online training with the launch of a series of online courses starting March 11 and continuing through 2013 covering a variety of topics.

IKEA announced that it has officially plugged in the solar energy system installed at its store in Sunrise, Fla., which will be the largest solar installation in south Florida and, when combined with IKEA projects already completed at stores in Orlando and Tampa, will make IKEA the state’s largest non-utility solar owner.

As part its SunShot Initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $29 million investment in four solar energy projects. These projects are aimed at improving grid connection and reducing installation costs through plug-and-play technologies and reliable solar power forecasts.

SunPower Corp. has announced the completion of the U.S. Navy’s largest solar power system, a 13.78-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. The power plant is the first federal agency project to be financed through a 20-year solar power purchase agreement.

The Catholic University of America (CUA) dedicated the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) panel system in Washington, D.C., featuring more than 2,600 solar panels designed to generate in excess of 830,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year, including a canopy of 714 panels over more than 70 parking spaces.

Since 2008, Ambassador Energy has provided solar photovoltaic (PV) training in its Southern California classroom. The company announced that it is adding an online option to the curriculum.

Distributed renewable energy installations today represent far less than one percent of total worldwide electricity generating capacity, but according to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, they will expand rapidly over the next half-decade.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved legislation promoting the growth of solar energy in the state. The package of bills, all related to tax exemption of solar projects in New York, was applauded by the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®).

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that $107 million is available for a major solar power incentive program that will increase the amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout New York. Proposals are sought for solar PV systems to be installed at larger commercial and industrial sites.