Politics Affecting The Home Solar Power Market

v>fast enough to put solar technology beyond much
After recently reading a New York Times article,more than a boutique investment".
we started thinking about home panel solarWe agree with Mr Khosla. Until the American solar
politics.  You see, although solar power is gainingindustry gets backing from the federal
popularity as a renewable energy solution forgovernment, our solar power costs and
home, it will never become mainstream withouttechnology will always lag behind the rest of the
the backing from the federal government.world. And as long as that happens, solar power
After recently reading a New York Times article,will never gain mass-market appeal in the US.
we started thinking about home  solar powerHowever, with the new change of government
politics.  You see, although solar power is gainingthere are 3 distinct factors taking place that give
popularity as a renewable energy solution forus assurance that home panel solar power is
home, it will never become mainstream withoutabout to take off in America.
the backing from the federal government.1 - The new president-elect Obama and his
A poll by the Nuclear Power Industry revealedadministration is putting big coal and oil aside, and
that the number one choice for generating powergiving green technologies higher priority.
was not from nuclear, coal or natural gas, butFurthermore, their new laws will help limit the
from solar energy. However, at the time the pollpower and influence wealthy lobbyists have on
was taken solar only provided for about 0.01new energy policies.
percent of America's power supply. Solar power is2 - Some states, such as California and Hawaii are
popular, but there's not enough investment!not waiting for Washington to pass the new
In Washington, where the energy policies areenergy policies. Instead they are taking initiative.
signed, solar power lobbyists generally work withGovernor Schwarzenegger's "Million Roof"
small budgets in the tens of thousands of dollars.campaign will not only create a new industry, but
Now when you compare it to the tens of millionsalso lower global warming and create thousands
of dollars that nuclear, coal, gas and oil lobbyistsof jobs.
have available, you can only guess which energy3 - And lastly, we, the home panel solar power
policies gain approval by our beloved politicians.users have the biggest role to play. All the energy
But when you look at countries like Germany andpolicies and campaigns would be useless if the
Japan, their government policies have increasedpopulation did not embrace solar power at home.
solar power implementation beyond what wasBut, from the poll and what was said by Mr
thought possible. With the support fromKhosla, that is not a problem. The America people
government not only have the manufacturingare not only very interested in solar power, but
costs decreased because of economies of scale,are also supporting it with investment.
but solar technologies have also rapidly advanced.And although it can take years to pay off the
We know government regulation is not verysolar power cost, people still invest. And when
popular in America, where many of us believe ourcost is a concern some are so interested in
capitalists markets should be left alone.  Butgetting involved that they learn to make and
according to Vinod Khosla, a partner at one ofinstall their own home solar power. So, let us
the world's biggest venture capitalist firms - VCcontinue moving towards solar and supporting the
Firm and major investor in green technologies:politicians and corporations who promote green
"...Market-driven improvements are not happeningtechnologies.