Solar electric(making electrical power from shining sun lite on photovoltaic panels) continues to grow in size although without government or utility subsidies the payback is still a bit long.
Thankfully an American state is leading the way on solar electric(and many other alternative energy options)
California is on track to more than double its power generated by solar panel installations in 2009, going against a downward global trend, according to research released on Wednesday.
Research house iSuppli Corp also expects the Golden State’s hot-streak to continue in 2010, when California’s photovoltaic installations, in terms of megawatts of power generated, would increase another 68 percent, while solar panel installations around the world grow 54 percent…………
Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaic at iSuppli, attributed California’s growth in solar installations to the state taking advantage of incentive programs such as the federal solar tax credit and U.S. stimulus program………..
ISuppli expects California to install 350 megawatts(1 million watts) of solar systems in 2009, compared with 132 MW installed across the rest of the United States. California ramped up on Tuesday its goal to have 33 percent of its energy come from renewable resources by 2020, up from a previous target of 20 percent by 2010.
Texas thankfully(so we can slowly get the state off it’s undying promotion of oil and gas) is getting into the alternative energy swing.
A solar-powered house built by a group of Texas students offers a blueprint for recession-hit U.S. families to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and their electricity bills without busting their budget.
The Zerow House, built by students at Rice University in Houston, will compete against other solar homes in Washington D.C. in October as part of the Solar Decathlon sponsored by the U.S. Energy Department.
But unlike some of its competitors, which are integrating high-concept, high-price features like tricked-out home entertainment systems and moving solar arrays that track the sun, the Rice team’s aim is affordability………….
In fact, Rice plans to donate the home to a low-income Houston family after the competition.
The house, about the size of a New York-style efficiency apartment, is a case study in frugality, and could easily be built in Houston for about $100,000, Sanchez said.
Its exterior has a no-nonsense, low-maintenance metal skin meant to bear up against the Gulf Coast region’s hurricane-force winds, and a lattice of vines hangs off the front to shield it from the brutal Texas sun.
Inside, it sports off-the-shelf, affordable appliances and cabinetry from stores like Ikea and Home Depot.
excerpts on above articles courtesy of reuters online green business
(Reporting by Laura Isensee, editing by Braden Reddall and Andre Grenon)9-16-09 on California article
(Reporting by Chris Baltimore; Editing by David Gregorio)9-16-09 on Rice article
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