ComputerWorld's Matt Hamblen reports that city officials in St. Louis Park, Minnesota are providing Wi-Fi access throughout the 10-square-mile Minneapolis suburb using 400 solar-powered wireless access points installed by contractor ARINC. The network is called ParkWiFi.

"Our decision to use solar power reflects the city's philosophy of environmental stewardship, but we also expect to save $40,000 to $50,000 each year by using solar power instead of electric utility connections," says city CIO Clint Pires.

"Homeowners and businesses will be able to buy wireless broadband service over the network, priced from about $15 to $30 a month, plus the cost of a gateway device to improve the signal for about $5 a month," Hamlben writes.

More here from UPI ... and the press release is here.