As energy costs soar, America looks to solar

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN0342345720080606

As energy costs soar, America looks to solar

Fri Jun 6, 2008 2:18am BST

By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - Apple Inc is considering harnessing the sun to power its iPod music players. California's Ironwood prison is installing more than 6,000 solar panels, and Boston's Fenway Park is tapping solar power for Red Sox baseball games.

After decades on the fringe, solar power is closing in on America's mainstream as surging fossil fuel prices and mounting concern over climate change spur states, businesses and homeowners into a quickening embrace with alternative energy.

Panels bolted to roofs to convert sunlight into electricity are still too expensive in most regions to compete with cheaper, less environmentally friendly fuels like coal without generous subsidies. Solar's high costs have kept the resource out of reach for many residences and businesses,.

...

The tipping point at which the world's cleanest, most renewable resource is cost-competitive with other sources of energy on electricity grids could happen within two to five years in some U.S. regions and countries if the price of fossil fuels continues to rise at its current pace, they add.

...

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. Didn't Jimmy Carter proposed this nearly a quarter of a century ago?

Oh that's right they laughed at him and Reagan pulled out those panels.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Pres. Carter had plans for some real mass transit changes too, didn't he? Imagine, if he

could have really implemented his great ideas and been able to keep them going. :cry:

[bahrbearian]

4. yep RayGun thought they were an eyesore

Jimmy also stated the "Dependence on foreign Energy was our greatest Security Threat" Imagine that.

[FogerRox]

3. KNR . . . . baby !! ! !

[stuntcat]

5. while ago on the radio

On Science Friday while ago the guest said that nano-technology will be used in collecting/storing solar power.
It sounded like scientists could figure out how to get much more power from sunlight than people have thought.
nanosolar is already a company name, I just saw online.