Comments on: In downturn, solar industry sees bright days ahead

Because the numbers on solar energy investments are looking better and comparatively safer, the business predicts rapid growth despite the economic crisis.

[Penguinisto]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention government projects - there's a metric ton of them in many states and countries.

Also, last I checked, many solar companies have a standing backlog of orders; it's not just the start-ups in there, y'know. :)

BTW: The company I'm working with is opening their solar cell producing plant today. It'll be the largest one in the Western Hemisphere by the time we reach full capacity next year... and there's zero problems with cash flow. It's an excellent time to be in the industry, economy crisis or no.

/P

[maverick1619]

Penguinisto is right that government projects were forgotten in this article, but he forgot to tell you where that money is coming from---the tax payers. So if the tax payers are shelling out for small solar projects across the country, why not build several big solar arrays similar to the Spanish and Arabs built with geothermal technology. If one watches the Discovery Channel, Eco-tech program has mention plans are under way to being that technology to the US. But these projects are stalled by extreme environmental lobbyists and legal hurtles in various states, which include those in the Southwest. In addition, capital to buy the land and the solar arrays is in short supply.

[Penguinisto]

True indeed - the taxpayers are furnishing the dough. OTOH, they also get the benefits. Take Oregon for instance- they've started a project to put a lot of highway/freeway land to use for solar generation. This would mean more power to go around (much like they did for hydroelectric power, but on a smaller scale). ref: http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/news/112771.html

I see zero problems with projects like this (the state pays for it, the scope is limited to the state, the results generate a ton of local jobs, etc), and they almost always pay for themselves multiple times over.

Why not larger arrays? I agree - I don't see why governments can't start drawing up plans for even larger farms out in, say, Nevada, North/South Dakota, New Mexico and Arizona, etc.

Nevada would be a great start - the US Air Force (or rather, the US gov't) already owns a very substantial portion of the state anyway.

[William Crow]

And just imagine...all this is happening under the Bush Administration.

[Dalene29]

And just imagine.... the left will try to take all the credit.

[masonx]

Economically, solar is no different than any other energy source. It has to be able to compete with petroleum when petroleum is at its lowest prices. It doesn't come close - any more than most other alternative energy sources. Until we physically run out of petroleum, or until we have a gov. that has the back bone to set energy petroleum energy prices at a level where the most efficient forms of alternative energy can subsist, then we are going to continue to see the boom and bust of alternative energy development cycles. Unfortunately, with each of these cycles alternative energy development funding will become more and more difficult and that is the danger in not setting a minimum petroleum fuel price, with the difference between the set prices and the market petroleum price going to develop alternative energy.

[Penguinisto]

Actually (@ masonx), that's not entirely true. Every time OPEC or a member thereof gets mouthy, folks start looking towards energy sources that won't rocket up to a confiscatory price. Every time some news report comes out blaring and scaring over global warming, folks start looking for energy sources that won't belch out gas as part of its operation.