DENVER -- Imagine turning Colorado's coal plants into solar plants.

That’s the idea behind a new $6 million initiative by Xcel Energy. The plan calls for studying new technology which is a non-traditional method of harnessing the sun's energy called "concentrated solar power."

Keith Gawlik, senior engineer for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden said, "That’s an interesting project. I think that definitely has a lot of merit."

Instead of a normal solar cell, the device uses giant mirrors to focus the sun's energy on a tube filled with heating oil. The oil is then transferred into a plant where it heats up a large amount of water. The water turns into steam and the steam powers the plant.

According to Gawlik, Colorado is a great place to test the science.

"We've got over 300 days of clear sunshine a year and this kind of technology is perfectly suited for that kind of environment," he said.

If the technology works, it would allow Xcel Energy to use existing coal-powered plants and convert the facilities into solar without having to invest in new buildings.

In order to cover the nearly $6 million research cost, Xcel is proposing a new monthly charge of 14 cents for residential customers and 22 cents for small businesses starting in January of 2010 and lasting for four years.

The Public Utilities Commission still must approve the idea. If it gets approved, research could begin in Grand Junction as early as this summer.