A hillside overlooking the Monongahela River could become Pittsburgh's first solar farm if an idea floated today by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration bears fruit.

The administration wants to find a consultant that would look at a 15-acre slope in Glen Hazel and try to figure out how much solar energy might be produced there, what kind of equipment would be needed and how much it would cost. If it looks promising, the city plans to seek out a company that would lease the land and install solar panels -- maybe enough to power 2,000 homes.

"This project is particularly exciting because we may be able to build a solar farm that would help light the homes in the Glen Hazel neighborhood, and be seen from the Monongahela River and one of the region's largest shopping destinations," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said in a written statement. "The message this would send to residents and visitors -- that we are a clean, green, and innovative city -- would be extremely powerful."

The land under consideration is owned by the Pittsburgh Housing Authority, and was at one time a public housing construction site, until mine subsidence concerns nixed the plan. A city solar committee identified it by producing a map showing all publicly owned land in the city with slopes facing south.

Solar farms already are operating near Philadelphia and in Somerset County, said Jim Sloss, the city's energy and utilities manager. To a limited extent, solar power is already working in the city, at a recently installed solar water heating system on a firehouse in Observatory Hill, he added.

"Solar power does work," he said. "Right now it's cloudy, it's overcast. But if you go over to Truck 34 to test that water system, it will scald you."

The city put a request for consultant proposals on its Web site today, and interested firms have until Feb. 18 to provide their qualifications, plans and proposed price. The city plans to pick a consultant by March 12, and they would start their study in early April.

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