U.S. "Next Big Thing" in Solar Development?

In recent years, the U.S. has lagged behind other nations in terms of solar power development. But that may change in the very near future.

A recent article in the Financial Times ("Potential of the Sun Dawns on the U.S.," Aug. 19, 2009) quotes an official at the Underwriters Laboratories energy department who puts it this way: "Most manufacturers around the world see the U.S. as the next big thing for solar."

Additionally, as the FT noted, the clean technology research group Pike Research said recently that by 2014 the U.S. may lead the world in solar energy. Today the U.S. lags behind Germany, Spain, and Japan. Germany has an installed base of 5.3 gigawatts, nearly four times more than the U.S. has. The German sector has been aided by a "feed in tariff," which requires German utilities to purchase all solar energy produced at an above market cost.