| Electricity generated from solar power (photovoltaic - | | | | business that has been growing steadily for more than |
| PV) is steadily proving to be a clean, reliable and | | | | 35% per year over the past 2 years. As a matter of |
| essential power. | | | | fact, it's been reported that the U.S.-based industry |
| Although naysayers, like fossil-fuel competitors, want | | | | itself is reaching the $1 billion mark per year and |
| us to think otherwise, I can easily demystify some | | | | providing 25,000 jobs. In the next two decades the |
| common falsehoods about solar energy because | | | | growth rate is expected to rise to the $10-$15 billion |
| progress and continued research proves that the | | | | level, thus provided 300,000 jobs by 2025. We are |
| current and future technologies of PV will meet our | | | | talking a major expansion of solar electricity as a tried |
| needs for cleaner power, which definitely is information | | | | and true power source. |
| worth discussing over any dinner party. | | | | Another very common falsehood that I hear at dinner |
| First of all most naysayers contend that solar energy | | | | party conversations is the PV is too expensive and will |
| cannot deliver any major portion of electricity to the | | | | not ever compete against all mighty fossil-fuels - the |
| states or the world for that matter. This is a falsehood | | | | industry will never manufacture the energy that it takes |
| based on the fact that PV technology can meet the | | | | to produce the system. |
| required demand. That a 100-mile-square area of | | | | Do I have a smirk on my face? Yes. This is so far |
| Nevada could supply solar energy to the states with all | | | | from the truth, it is ridiculous. The overall cost of |
| its electricity (roughly 800 gigawatts) operating | | | | producing PV modules has dropped from 1980 at $50 |
| reasonably efficient (10%) commercial PV modules. | | | | per peak watt to as low as $3 per peak watt, |
| Land, parking lots and rooftops are available for use to | | | | presently, bringing the competitive applications to as |
| generate enough power. An estimated 17 by 17 miles | | | | low as 15¢-25¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh). |
| per state is the required amount needed to produce | | | | One can simply take a look at the market in California. |
| 800 gigawatts. Apparently, there are enough | | | | The state incentives and net metering alone have |
| "abandoned" sites that could be used for solar panels. | | | | places, PV electricity prices below 11¢/kWh, which |
| Supporters of solar electricity definitely have proven | | | | is in the norm with some utility-delivered power. |
| that PV can supply a major portion of the U.S. | | | | Designed for most domestic markets the trend is |
| electrical needs with their projection of an increase of | | | | projected to continue through 2010 for most domestic |
| at least 15% of new added electricity capacity in 2020 | | | | markets. |
| with another increase of 10% by 2030. | | | | Technologically the thin-film modules that are being |
| Another falsehood I hear quite regularly is that | | | | implemented today payback in one year or even less, |
| photovoltaics will never become a huge industry. It's a | | | | which means clean and practically free of overhead |
| boutique business for a small group of privileged | | | | energy for the remaining 29-year life expectancy of |
| consumers. | | | | the modules. |
| Quite the contrary, solar electricity is a full-fledged | | | | |