The development of a hybrid solar-and-gas system will allow natural gas power plants to improve operational efficiency by about 20%, leaving a smaller carbon footprint, according to the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. "Our system will enable power plants to use less natural gas to produce the same amount of electricity they already make," said Bob Wegeng, PNNL engineer. "At the same time, the system lowers a power plant's greenhouse gas emissions at a cost that's competitive with traditional fossil fuel power."