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Solar Power: Cheaper Than Ever

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Posted on Aug 26, 2009
Flickr / Wayne National Forest

Spain accounted for almost half of the world’s solar power market in 2008, thanks to a subsidy that is now ending. The subsidy change, combined with an increased supply of solar equipment from China and Taiwan, has crashed international demand. Now solar modules are selling for half what they used to, according to a report on Global Post.

That may still not be low enough for the average homeowner, but there’s plenty that cash-strapped environmentalists can do to go green. Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, washing with cold water and investing in proper window insulation, just to name three.

For the cool kids who decide to soak up the sun like Gore Vidal, price isn’t the only obstacle—PS

Global Post:

Industry analyst Paul Maycock, with PV Energy Systems, Inc. in Williamsburg, Virginia, said new factories in China and Taiwan opened just as the change in Spanish policy caused demand to collapse.

[...] Before the Spanish reversal, solar modules had been selling for about $3.75 to $4.00 per watt of electricity generated, before factoring in installation costs, he said.

“Now I’m hearing about Chinese and Taiwanese producers selling at $2.25 a watt or less just to clear inventory,” Maycock said.

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By beeline, March 17, 2010 at 9:28 am Link to this comment

If we all installed solar panels, rode a bike, or walked for short journeys we’d save money and be a lot healthier. Unfortunately, we’re generally quite bad at making major lifestyle changes and things such as solar panels and wind turbines are quite a major investment.

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By richard roe, August 27, 2009 at 10:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

An oil driven corporate/political infrastructure, (the USA), has lots of profits to lose when people are energy independent harvesting electricity directly from the sun to fuel their homes and cars.

No way do the wealthy want that, the current form of energy slavery works just fine for them, thank you.

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By grumpynyker, August 27, 2009 at 8:12 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

So why did the Mulatto-in-Chief appoint Van Jones from
Greenforall.org?  Was it to shut him up or allow him to
implement his policies, especially in the urban
centers?  Think of how many jobs could be given to
working age black men/women building/installing solar
panels in their communities or in rural areas.

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By Benjamin Tasker, August 27, 2009 at 5:16 am Link to this comment

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase
chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the
evolution to a vegetarian diet. ” - Albert Einstein.

The largest impact you can make to improve the
environment (and your health) is to drastically
reduce your animal product consumption. While,
admittedly that is not incredibly easy for a lot of
people - I’m not demanding everyone go vegan or
vegetarian.

Even if we cut our animal product consumption by half
- it would do loads more than buying any hybrid,
installing any windmill, or recycling any paper.

http://www.pbjcampaign.org/

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By ChaoticGood, August 26, 2009 at 5:39 pm Link to this comment

Just think how many jobs would be created if we could have government incentives to install solar electric panels.  I guess its just too simple a solution to work, kinda like “cash for clunkers”

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