SURVEY SHOWS AMERICANS WANT Survey Shows Americans Want Faster Use Of Solar Energy To Help Cut Costs And Meet Energy Needs

(NAPSI)-Experts say one of the least expensive sources of power is also the cleanest and most abundant--solar energy--and a recent survey found many Americans want it to become a bigger part of their lives. In fact, four out of five people surveyed agreed that solar energy should play a greater role in meeting the nation's energy needs in the next five years. And they are willing to pay a small price for the huge benefit that solar brings over time. Additionally, most people don't realize that solar is already cost competitive with fossil fuels in many parts of the United States. Other key points in the survey--sponsored by Applied Materials, a leading manufacturer of solar panel factories around the world--revealed: • Half the people surveyed (50 percent) think the U.S. government's goal to have 25 percent of the country's power generated by renewable energy by 2025 is too slow. • More than two-thirds (68 percent) think utilities should include solar electricity as a part of their energy generation. • Just over half (52 percent) would be willing to pay more per month if their utility company increased its use of renewable energy. But many consumers (41 percent) would not be willing to pay more, demonstrating the important role that government incentives to bring down solar costs will have on advancement of the technology. Industrializing Solar There are still many misconceptions about solar energy, the most prevalent being cost, because many people don't understand what makes up their monthly energy bill. Peak energy costs--the energy we use in the middle of the day while the sun is shining and demand for energy spikes--is more expensive than nonpeak energy--the energy that runs our refrigerator in the middle of the night. To meet this demand each afternoon, many utility companies turn on natural gas−powered "peaker plants" to supplement the coal-powered plants that provide 24/7 baseload power. However, it is at just this time when solar is at its best and is most cost-effective. Solar energy is a cost-competitive option for peak-power generation today. And the cost of solar is only going down as the technology improves and scale increases. History shows that the more installed solar capacity you have, the further costs will drop. Specifically, for every doubling of the solar installed base, the cost per watt of solar is reduced by 20 percent. Advocates say a consistent government policy would create incentives for consumers--and entire communities--to go solar, helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions as it creates a new type of American-made and energy-independent green industry. Not only is solar affordable and the key to creating a more stable, clean energy future, but it has the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new clean tech jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit fab2farm.com or e-mail fab_2_farm@amat.com.

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