Take a look at what economist Paul Krugman had to say about the solar industry in today’s column:
These days, mention solar power and you’ll probably hear cries of “Solyndra!” Republicans have tried to make the failed solar panel company both a symbol of government waste — although claims of a major scandal are nonsense — and a stick with which to beat renewable energy.© 2008 Flickr/Oregon DOT cc by 2.0
But Solyndra’s failure was actually caused by technological success: the price of solar panels is dropping fast, and Solyndra couldn’t keep up with the competition. In fact, progress in solar panels has been so dramatic and sustained that, as a blog post at Scientific American put it, “there’s now frequent talk of a ‘Moore’s law’ in solar energy,” with prices adjusted for inflation falling around 7 percent a year.
This has already led to rapid growth in solar installations, but even more change may be just around the corner. If the downward trend continues — and if anything it seems to be accelerating — we’re just a few years from the point at which electricity from solar panels becomes cheaper than electricity generated by burning coal.
Have you found solar power more affordable and available in your own home or business? Is there more commitment to solar power in your community? Share your thoughts below!
GREGORY RUIZ
November 7th
I have been trying to do my part building my solar panels, but lately it’s more cheaper getting then online the price have gone down almost a 50% i AM TEACHING MY COMMUNITY HOW TO BUILD THERE bank of solar panel..
James T Back
November 7th
I live in the center of Kentucky, a place where coal is king, to our shame. I can only hope that this will be true, that soon solar will drive the Nails in Coals Toxic Coffin.
Sadly even if it does become more affordable, Many people in this area are so BLINDED by the typical republican smokescreen that they couldnt see the truth if they walked into it. I can only hope that as the economics change, peoples opinions will force The political machine to also change.
Joseph Zummach
November 8th
I live in a remote area of SW New Mexico we have grid power available to our community but choose to use solar instead for pumping water and lighting our houses. I have a very scaled down house 300 square feet with a solar set up of one 50 watt Panel charge controller and one battery that lights my house and powers my computer. Total cost for parts less than 500$ not counting my time. The system has paid for itself many times over in the last four years. of use. The house is passive solar for winter gain with a hand built adobe wood stove backup that works as a heat sink for both winter heating and summer cooling. I use ambient cooling in winter for refrigeration and moist towel over an ice chest in summer, along with eating fresh food out of my garden which I trade for fresh dairy and eggs with my neighbors as i need it. This is a time tested way of life with some modern amenities a kind of artisanal life style would not trade for anything.
Ian Kerr
November 9th
With Federal, state, and utility incentives, solar power is reasonably affordable in Arizona. Solar energy has reduced my electric bill by 70%. However (1) large utilities are putting pressure on state regulators to reduce the incentives they give to customers to produce green energy (2) the up-front cost of installing is prohibitive for most of the middle class in the absence of long-term low-interest financing. Item (2) is especially a problem because home equity loans actually require equity these days, and the collapse of the housing market robbed millions of Americans of all their equity… and then some. This is especially true in some of the sunniest real estate markets in the USA (California, Arizona, Las Vegas, Florida).