subject: How Solar Power Has Slowly Been Adopted [print this page] The adoption of solar power in the United States has been excruciatingly slow. The primary reason cited is the high price of solar energy components. A valid argument...until you look at the cost of not adopting solar energy, rising fossil fuel costs, and economies of scale to bring down price.
The average American, according to Nature Conservancy statistics, actually uses enough energy to emit about 54,000 pounds of greenhouse gases per year. This compares to an average of 5.5 tons or 11,000 pounds per person worldwide. So...let's see, I think that equates to about 5 times more greenhouse gas contribution per year than any other person in the world. If you're from the United States, does that make you feel a little "icky?" Are you thinking a little more strongly about the cost of not adopting solar energy? Just for a little more consideration...would you rather be at the top or the bottom...when it comes to emission contribution?
Let's talk a bit about the cost of solar power. Adoption of solar power in developing countries has been rapid and satisfying. That's because there are so many places that would never be able to have a conventional on-the-grid electrical power supply from a fossil-fuel power plant. But, they can have a $200 solar panel. They may actually be able to take their very first shower, and know that they can have the experience of hot water in that shower over and over. At the same time, they know that once that solar panel is paid for, every shower after that is free. You don't have to be an economist to decide what to do...get solar or wait...forever.
Other countries, including those in Europe, hard hit by rapidly escalating fuel costs, and an unstable supply source, have been more aggressive in their adoption of solar power. The installation of rooftop solar systems for hot water heaters has escalated rapidly as fuel costs have risen.
China has around 4,000 companies manufacturing solar water heaters, with about 27 million installed, according to a March 2010 article in www.grist.org.
Plodding slowly along behind, the United States has espoused certain standards, and created initiatives designed to move the country toward more renewable energy usage. However, as a major fossil fuel consumer, enough economic leverage has been generated to keep imported energy costs relatively affordable, and therefore created for consumers a false sense of security. With rapidly depleting fossil fuel availability, and world economic instability, however, this may all change rapidly.
Here's an inspiring bit of news for all of us: Currently, with the world initiatives on stabilizing our climate through a shift to renewable energies, there are projections that if all the countries meet their renewable energy goals by the year 2020, it will result in the equivalent reduction of 690 coal-fired power plants. Under current calculations, that could mean slashing net carbon emissions by 80%.
Pretty impressive, I'd say. A worthwhile goal. But wait...there's more. The economies of scale tell us that the more rapidly we move toward solar power adoption, the more affordable it will become.
In the United States, solar energy has simply not been able to find a price point compared to fossil fuel energy. Only the most environmentally-conscious and/or the most affluent families have adopted solar as a result. In fact, when you compare the United States to Europe in its use of solar water heaters, we fall far behind, except for swimming pool solar waters. Even that, however, is a step in the right direction. It increases the possibility that as more and more Americans decide the right thing to do is to "go solar," the impetus will generate greater economies of scale that will move solar energy to parity with fossil fuel, and beyond. It will, hopefully eliminate the need for any governmental subsidies or initiatives to move it to the forefront of all other power options.
State and federal subsidies, along with tax incentives, rebates and net metering are currently pushing the United States, albeit slowly, toward a more wholehearted and robust adoption of solar energy. Giving a nudge to this initiative, several states, including Florida, California and Hawaii, have added their own incentives to further the effort.
Adoption of solar power has been slow. Cost, immediate availability, usability, and reliability of solar power equipment, coupled with adverse industrial and political pressure, have all impacted our acceptance of solar energy as a viable competitor to what we know works...fossil fuel energy.
Adoption, however, may soon be forthcoming, as the many factors of cost, reliability, and environmental impact are all coalescing to bring solar energy to the front door of the orphanage...with its presentation of "pick me...I'm the right one for you now."
There is every indication that history will show...now is the time for solar power adoption.
