Here’s a pleasant surprise: Xcel Energy is retiring two coal-fired plants in Colorado and adding 850 megawatts of wind power and a 200-megawatt solar concentrating power plant -- one of the world's largest -- instead.

It’s the company’s first stab at utility-scale solar. Even better: It’s the first time a utility in America has volunteered to shut down a coal plant (let alone two) to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

And therein lies the point. The announcement suggests a serious intention from one of America’s largest coal burners to turn the tide of fossil fuels at a time of economic and energy danger for the nation.

The brass ring for solar energy has long been "grid parity," or delivering electricity to the grid at the prevailing local price. But the solar photovoltaic (PV) march toward parity has been delayed, ironically, by the sector's own surging popularity.

The main reason? Supply of the raw material, crystalline silicon, hasn't kept up with skyrocketing PV demand, resulting in severe shortages and high prices. But with new factories and new technology on the horizon, the supply shortage may end soon, which means the prices could drop like a rock. Or maybe not.

Confused? Read on...

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


click to enlarge

Photon International Magazine reported on a conference of solar cell companies held in April 2007 according to the second quarter report of the New Alternatives Fund, one of my vast and extremely lucrative investments (or so I hope).

The conclusions of the report were that silicon supply growth is coming on faster than anticipated, costs are coming down faster than expected, and global demand is more robust than expected.

A friend from the climate change trenches, wrote me about his experience with window reflectors and summer cooling after reading Old Solar:  Venetian Vernacular.  He adapted the idea of car windshield reflectors to some of his sunniest windows using foamboard, cardboard, and aluminized mylar.