Poll: Prospects Good for the US Solar Industry
I was interested in the poll that showed the respondents identified the main obstacles to growth as the lack of financing (81.8 percent), little support from utilities (62.9 percent), lack of customer knowledge (61.3 percent), and insufficient level of incentives (59.1 percent). I could not agree more. The entire article can be accessed at: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/poll-prospects-good-for-the-us-solar-industry#at . These are the main drivers for the work that Jim and I are actively engaging. Financing is getting better with some of the federal programs supporting solar. The electric utilities still are reticent about the intermittent nature of solar and our thoughts are that energy storage at the souce of the solar is one way to promote better acceptance from the utilities. Lack of customer knowledge can be combatted with the all our members speaking to public groups about the benefits of solar to the homeowner, businesses and to churches. Come to Nashville on November 10 and participate in the Solar Energy Symposium. Maybe the Governor and legislature can come up with better incentives. Maybe our electric utilities can do the same. Hope to see you there.
Steve Levy and Jim Hackworth