Fifty miles east of Los Angeles, a small and inconspicuous facility is using something most of us would rather not think about -- household sewage -- to create a resource we can't live without -- fuel.

The U.S. solar market is poised to triple next year as federal stimulus funds become available and access to financing for renewable energy projects is unfrozen, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd Chief Strategy Officer Steven Chan said on Tuesday.

California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co on Wednesday announced an expanded agreement with solar thermal power company BrightSource Energy Inc for more than 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of clean, solar energy.

First Solar Inc on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street estimates, sending the U.S. solar company's shares up 9.4 percent in extended trade.

The company also said it began the process of finding a replacement for current CEO Michael Ahearn.