L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled a long-range plan to have solar power meet one-tenth of L.A.'s energy needs by 2020 and make L.A. the hub of the solar energy industry.  The plan calls for solar energy to produce 1,280 megawatts of power, through a combination of private and public generating facilities and the installation of solar panels on homes.

The city's Department of Water and Power will be tasked to to wean itself off of fossil fuels; redevelopment funds will be used to bring "clean" technology companies to the area and the city's pension dollars will be invested in environmentally friendly companies.   According to an LA Times article, "The largest share of solar power, 500 megawatts, would come from generating facilities built by private-sector companies in the Mojave Desert.  An additional 380 megawatts would be achieved through smaller programs, including one that would help low-income residents add solar panels to their homes."

Photo by Tiggs07 - Creative Commons