Solar-power industry remains hot in California

[jpak]

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11358068

Despite the turbulent economy, or perhaps because of it, solar energy remains a growth industry in California.

The amount of electricity generated in the state by solar energy soared in 2008, and applications for rebates under the state's Million Solar Roofs program reached record levels in the last five months of the year.

"While we don't have the final numbers yet, it appears we nearly doubled the amount of solar installed in 2008 versus 2007," said Molly Tirpak Sterkel, director of the California Solar Initiative. "That's a magnificent story."

Experts attribute the surge in solar sales to a big increase in the federal tax credit, an ongoing state rebate and new innovative financing programs, as well as to mounting consumer concerns over global warming. The growth comes despite a U.S. economy suffering from a battered stock market, severe declines in house and car sales, and growing unemployment.

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[navarth]

1. good good good

I like it, I hope it's hugely profitable to go green. Use that profit motive to clean up some problems.

Making greed disappear is difficult. Maybe our creavtivity can trump that.

Many times I have wondererd if our Detroit auto companies were were looking into retooling to make solar panels and windmills, whether they could afford it, or was it a case of short-sightedness, etc. What nice shape they'd be in now if something like that had worked out for them. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know.