Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee

Little by little, Sacramento is creating a green-tech economy. Tuesday, it made some important headway in the solar energy business.

Elisabeth Rosenthal, New York Times

 PUERTOLLANO, Spain — Two years ago, this gritty mining city hosted a brief 21st-century gold rush. Long famous for coal, Puertollano discovered another energy source it had overlooked: the relentless, scorching sun.

Staff Reports, Central Valley Business Times

Solar Power Inc. (OTCBB: SOPW) of Roseville says it’s making plans to build a manufacturing plant and a massive solar “farm” in Sacramento County thanks to the county’s commitment to $24.7 million in bonds funded by the federal stimulus act.

The manufacturing facility would build high-performance solar panels. The company has not said where the plant might be located or how many people it might employ.

An energy research agency applies the same theory that led to the invention of the Internet: that government funding churns out radical innovations. Director Arun Majumdar talks about the challenges. 

Jim Tankersley, Los Angeles Times

P.J. Huffstutter, Los Angeles Times