Solar

Solar power is the most readily available form of renewable energy on earth. Produced by capturing the light from the sun and converting it to electricity using solar cells, the greatest capacity for solar energy is available in the Southwest, although it is possible to harvest solar energy nearly everywhere in the continental United States. Most existing solar facilities are located in the Southwest.

Solar power plants cover a large amount of ground and are typically installed in desert areas. Solar power plants may use concentrating solar power technology or photovoltaic panels. Solar power can also be collected on an individual basis using photovoltaic panels attached to buildings. In the United States, it is common for the energy produced from these panels to be sold back to the energy grid as a credit for utility usage. A challenge with solar energy is efficiently moving the energy produced through the grid.

The graph below shows solar access in the United States, showing that St. Louis is not in a particularly great location for solar access.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-does-solar-power-work

http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/energytrends/currentusage/renewable/solar/solar-systems-in-the-desert/Solar-Systems-in-the-Desert.pdf