Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Wells Fargo were part of a funding group to help California's Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority install solar parking canopy systems at its three bus maintenance divisions, which are expected to generate more than 2 megawatts of green energy.

"VTA will be saving taxpayer money on energy costs while investing in a future that will benefit us all," said Ken Yeager, Santa Clara County Supervisor and chair of the VTA. "VTA is already combating global warming through the promotion of mass transit and congestion management. Now, we are reducing greenhouse gases through our operations, too."

The solar canopy systems will offset the electricity demand at the three bus maintenance divisions, while allowing the VTA to save approximately $2.7 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years.

Another piece of news regarding solar energy in Santa Clara comes from Santa Clara University, which the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced will take part in the 2013 Solar Decathlon.

Students in the undergraduate engineering school at Santa Clara will compete with other schools in the area on building the best net-zero energy house.