NC conference pools thinking on solar technologies

CHAPEL HILL -- Scientists concentrating on a new generation of technology that turns sunlight into electric power are putting their heads together at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There's increasing activity around the world on developing technologies that move away from oil and coal. The three-day conference in Chapel Hill opens Thursday with a talk about the global energy picture by California Institute of Technology professor Nathan Lewis. The conference on the next generation of solar energy technology is sponsored by Duke Energy and the Research Triangle Energy Consortium. The consortium is a collaboration of Duke University, North Carolina State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the private think-tank RTI International. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)