Microsoft goes solar

At a small gathering Friday afternoon at Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View, the company commemorated Earth Day by flipping the switch on its new solar electric system, designed to save energy costs.

Attendees were treated to free scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Microsoft says the system, which with 2,288 solar panels on four building rooftops generates about 480 kW at peak capacity, is the largest of its kind in Silicon Valley. It's also the first such effort from Microsoft on any one of its worldwide campuses. "Microsoft is committed to being a responsible environmental citizen locally and globally," said John Matheny, Microsoft's Silicon Valley Site Leader. "Implementing the latest practices and technologies to protect the environment is good for the community and good for our business."

Credit: Stefanie Olsen/CNET News.com

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