No, we’re not talking about your lovely Christmas trees.

Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus recently installed solar panels on the roof of  the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. These new solar panels are the first of their kind at the Downtown campus. The project cost approximately $815,000 and includes 322 panels which will produce 122,335-kilowatt hours of energy, not to mention are super cool. This is just one of many ways in which the schools plan to two conserve 20 megawatts of power every year by 2014.

And Why not? Sun is Arizona’s most bountiful resource. Those of you who have driven past the VA, Couldn’t help but notice their energy efficient parking structure. This past august, Duke Energy Renewables, purchased the Ajo Solar Project, in Pima County and The Bagdad Solar Project, located in Yavapai County, which collectively generate 20MW every year. More recently , Big Wigs from Greater Phoenix Economic Council  met with Senators Kyl and McCain in a lobbying effort for the growing industry. All just pieces in the bigger solar powered future of Arizona.  What does that mean for you? Recently, APS announced that customers could expect a 21% decrease in their bills thanks to their renewable energy programs, like partnering with Duke Energy Renewable.

ASU will of course be reaping in these benefits along with federal and state tax credits. The Downtown solar panels are just one of many ways in which the schools plan to conserve 20 megawatts of power every year by 2014.