Well, the sun finally went away here in Oregon. After two days of 80+ degree weather, the gray is back. Ahh, much better to listen to the new Radiohead album to. The sun was nice though.
Speaking of the sun, NOVA, one of the best programs on PBS, recently produced a show on solar energy called Saved by the Sun. (Follow the link to watch the program.)
Two things stood out to me:
1) Germany continues to rock. The best segment in the show talks about Germany and its massive use of solar panels around the country. The government has a 20-year price lock on the price paid for energy produced by private panel owners. So, for the next 20 years, those who install solar panels on their property are guaranteed a good price on the power they produce. Cool incentives!
So, with these great incentives, everyone is doing it. There are solar panels everywhere. Plus, a booming industry to produce cheaper, more effective solar panels has been born.
Now, critics say the industry boom may not be sustainable. But at least it is a jump in the right direction.
Q-Cells, a German company and maker of silicon cells, is featured in the NOVA special.
Go Germany! Check out some of the solar panel displays around the country:
2) Amory Lovins is cool. Check out the last segment of the show, in which Lovins shows off his awesome tropical fruit room.
Anyway, back to work.
i love solar energy! i think that is our plan when we move into our yurt. the US Government also offers tons of incentives. And if you are on the grid (as in using some sort of electric company…or at least hooked up to it) then the electric companies here in the US are also required to pay you for the amount of power that your panels produce!! this is amazing. thanks for blogging on this man. yay.