The solar power industry—along with all renewable energy industries -- has gotten a lot of bad press recently, with the bankruptcy of Solyndra and Evergreen Solar, but it would be a serious mistake to turn our backs on this rapidly growing (and increasingly affordable) source of non-polluting domestic renewable energy.
Myth #1 – the US solar industry has fallen behind that of China.
It’s true that many of the solar PV (photovoltaic) panels being installed in this country were manufactured in China, where massive government subsidies support the manufacturing companies – but (drum roll, please…), those Chinese panels rely on solar PV components manufactured here in America. In 2010, 99% of US solar PV components were exported to China and Germany, a positive trade flow close to $2 billion.
Myth #2 – the Obama administration made a huge mistake allowing the Department of Energy (DOE) to issue loan guarantees to solar companies like Solyndra.
While it’s true that some of these companies failed (which is not at all uncommon with start-up industries), there’s a lot more contributing to renewable energy company failures that just bad judgment on the part of the DOE. For instance, Ener1, a Midwest manufacturer of lithium ion batteries needed to jumpstart the introduction of hybrid/electric cars, is in danger of failing because not enough hybrid/electric cars are being produced in the US! Meanwhile, previous (Republican) administrations have provided trillions of dollars in loan guarantees and subsidies for the nuclear, coal, oil and natural gas industries, so it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black…
And then there’s the elephant in the room that fossil-fuel companies and government lobbyists don’t want to acknowledge: if average homeowners are able to drop off the centralized power grid by using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power in their own backyards, that means that everyday people will become energy producers, not just energy consumers – and excess power from this “distributed generation” can be sold back to the utility grid. This prospect must be sending shivers through corporate boardrooms…
And the up-front costs for installing solar panels on your home or business become more affordable every month. Numerous tax incentives and rebates offered by the federal, state and local governments, along with 0% heat loan and leasing options, make solar PV power a very attractive home improvement and money-saving measure. And the technology itself becomes more cost-effective and innovative every year.
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