by Ryan Randazzo - Apr. 11, 2010 12:00 AM
Two bits of recent news struck at one of the big questions regarding solar energy - where do you put it?
To power the U.S., a trade group said the answer is on federal land.
To power Europe, the answer could be in North Africa.
The Solar Energy Industries Association released a report last month stating that 75 percent of respondents to a survey said they support putting solar on public land.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., helped the trade group break that news.
"When Americans talk about solar energy, they usually envision rooftop systems, which are great," Giffords said.
"But it's important to also realize the significant role that utility-scale solar has to play. Large solar installations use economies of scale to achieve significant cost savings and help Americans to get the most solar bang for the buck."
Respondents also favored government support for solar and wind power over natural gas, nuclear and coal power, according to the industry report.
The poll surveyed 500 U.S. adults in late February.
What if you don't have bright, hot deserts to put your solar-power plants on? Then put them in another country.
That's the answer from the Desertec Industrial Initiative, which is touting the regional benefits of its massive plan to power European countries with solar and wind power from North Africa and the Middle East.
Tempe-based First Solar Inc. announced last month that it would join the initiative, lending its power-plant-building expertise.
Source: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/04/11/20100411biz-insider0411randazzo.html
Two bits of recent news struck at one of the big questions regarding solar energy - where do you put it?
To power the U.S., a trade group said the answer is on federal land.
To power Europe, the answer could be in North Africa.
The Solar Energy Industries Association released a report last month stating that 75 percent of respondents to a survey said they support putting solar on public land.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., helped the trade group break that news.
"When Americans talk about solar energy, they usually envision rooftop systems, which are great," Giffords said.
"But it's important to also realize the significant role that utility-scale solar has to play. Large solar installations use economies of scale to achieve significant cost savings and help Americans to get the most solar bang for the buck."
Respondents also favored government support for solar and wind power over natural gas, nuclear and coal power, according to the industry report.
The poll surveyed 500 U.S. adults in late February.
What if you don't have bright, hot deserts to put your solar-power plants on? Then put them in another country.
That's the answer from the Desertec Industrial Initiative, which is touting the regional benefits of its massive plan to power European countries with solar and wind power from North Africa and the Middle East.
Tempe-based First Solar Inc. announced last month that it would join the initiative, lending its power-plant-building expertise.
Source: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/04/11/20100411biz-insider0411randazzo.html
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