So What Is the Next Big Thing?

I’m often asked when the ‘next big thing’ is coming in Solar. Mostly, I’m not sure how the ‘next big thing’ is defined. My mind keeps drifting to those 1950s/1960s movies of big things attacking from outer space, or little things being exposed to radiation and becoming big, hostile things (another potent argument against nuclear energy). At some point in the program you would see a trailer for the following week’s sci-fi movie, when you would learn about the ‘next big thing’.

It’s more likely, however, that my questioners want to know when they can expect to pay a fraction of today’s prices for solar power. Or when they can call up one of those hydroseeding trucks to spray their house with Instant Solar, enabling them to send a rude goodbye note to their electric utility. (more…)

Don’t They Like the Sun in Hawaii?

If there’s any state in the Union that could call itself a natural candidate for solar power, it might have to be Hawaii.  The Aloha State has the most expensive rates of fossil fuel-powered electricity in the country (over 26 cents/kilowatt-hour,  compared to an average for the nation of under 11 cents/kilowatt-hour).  The state relies on imported fossil fuels for more than 96% of its energy, yet has abundant supplies of renewable power sources: wind, waves and – most of all – sun.  Grid parity for solar in Hawaii – that point in time at which it is no more expensive to use solar power than conventional power to generate electricity – has well and truly passed there.

It’s a state where you might expect the electric utility to be encouraging residential and commercial customers to install solar power. It would reduce the state’s total fuel bill and, even better, obviate the need for the utility to build more fossil-based power plants. You might also expect the utility to get into the clean energy game itself with central station solar or utility-scale wind installations.

Of course, you might also be very frustrated in your expectations. (more…)

Hundreds of Groups Sign Letter to U.S. Senate

Solar Nation recently joined with some 260 businesses, organizations and individuals as a signatory to a letter delivered to all U.S. senators, urging them to support emissions caps and develop aggressive energy efficiency and renewable energy standards.

The letter, originated by the Sustainable Energy Network*, also called on senators to reject nuclear power development, undiminished fossil fuel use, and rollbacks of environmental policies and actions.

Specifically, the letter recommended:

• The United States should establish a mandatory cap on allowable greenhouse gas emissions as well as both a near-term and a longer-term schedule for reducing overall emissions to levels consistent with the best science now available (e.g., 30% or more by 2020). (more…)

Texas is ‘Ready for Solar’

by Debra Kahn

Reprinted from ClimateWire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC.
www.eenews.net. 202/628-6500

California’s SolarCity is partnering with Texas energy provider TXU Energy to offer solar panels for lease to homeowners and eventually businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Lyndon Rive, CEO of the Silicon Valley company, said the deal marks the first time a traditional utility has partnered directly with a solar company.

“If the industry wants to see millions of homes adopting solar across the U.S., we have to figure out a way to partner with those who are providing power today and embrace two business models,” Rive said in an interview. “If there’s no collaboration, then adoption will be slow.” (more…)