You can’t rent a solar-powered car yet, but at least you can now choose a rental company that gets its power from the sun. The Hertz Corp. (NYSE: HTZ) said on Feb. 10 that it plans to install a total of 2.48 megawatts of solar at 16 locations in 2011.

Hertz is installing arrays in nine states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The company said it’s installing the arrays to reduce its energy costs and offset its carbon footprint.

In the same announcement, the company also said it completed the first installation, a 235-kilowatt photovoltaic system installed at Denver International Airport. The array is expected to produce 342,766 kilowatt hours of solar annually, according to the company.

Hertz contracted with Martifer Solar USA to install rooftop solar arrays at 14 locations across the U.S.

“We’re actually designing it and engineering it and moving forward on the projects,” said Raffi Agopian, CEO of Martifer Solar. “The second quarter is when we’re looking to deploy these projects.” The construction dates are pending certain building permits and approvals, he added.

In a press release, Hertz said that this is only the first phase of its solar-energy program. It did not offer details about subsequent phases but stated that it expected to complete construction on the arrays in the third quarter of 2011.

"Hertz is committed to reducing costs and to sustainable business practices. Investing in solar energy for these facilities makes good business sense," said Mark Frissora, Hertz Chairman and CEO. "We will now look to additional facilities in the U.S. and internationally to further this important program.”

The company has been taking other steps to reduce its carbon footprint, including greening the portfolio of cars it offers.

In December 2010, it launched the Hertz Global EV line of electric and plug-in car rentals.

The cars in the program will include the Tesla Roadster, the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Smart For Two electric cars and CODA’s five-passenger electric vehicles.

In January, Hertz said it completed the first rental of the much anticipated Chevy Volt. The company plans to expand the program rapidly, and projects that it will have up to 1,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2011.

Hertz did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Image courtesy of NREL.