Solar History 101

SOLAR HISTORY 101 Comparing the plunging cost of solar power vs the soaring cost of traditional energy sources. Photovoltaic installations have increased dramatically over the past decade, while the cost of generating electricity with solar has gone down. Thanks to tax incentives other initiatives, this trend promises to continue. 2002 2005 2008 2010 1997 1998 2004 2006 2007 2009 2008: 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 pledges over $70 billion in direct spending and tax credits for clean energy, the largest federal amount ever given for renewables 2002: 2006: 2010: California Public Utilities Program and the Energy Commission start framework for the California Solar Initiative Program to manage solar rebate programs in the state 2007: The Clean Energy Act provides fund- ing for solar energy research and devel- opment, and also increases the popu- larity of solar panels The Federal Gov- ernment extends its 30% solar tax cred- its by 8 years as part of the Emer- gency Economic Senator Bernie Sanders proposes the Ten Million Solar Roofs Act, which aims for 10 million new solar rooftop panels in the U.S. over the next decade The Million Solar Roof Initiative is ahead of schedule, with 350,000 solar panels installed 1997: 2004: The Federal Government's Million Solar Roofs Initiative Governor Schwartzenegger announces the Million Solar Roofs program in California aims to have one Štabilization Act million solar panels installed on U.S. homes and commercial spaces by 2010 2002: The California Public Utilities Commission unveils the Self- Generation Incen- tive Program, which covers rebates for solar systems 30 kW and higher 2005: The Energy Policy Act requires the Depart- ment of Energy to study and report on renewable energy sources, including solar 2007: 1998: The California Energy Commission's Emerg- ing Renewables Pro- gram provides rebates for small solar energy systems (under 30 kw) Go Solar California 2006: The Million Solar Roof bill becomes law in California, ushering in solar as a standard in the launches, providing incentives and rebates for energy efficient new home construction state Over the past decade, the cost of making electricity has risen for coal, natural gas, oil and oil due to decreasing supply an the incalculable damage done from environmen- tal disasters that are never included in energy cost figures. But, the cost for solar-generated electricity has dropped dra- matically Solar panel manufacturing increased by over 2300% from 1999 to 2008, and continues to rise. o IL 550k 1200 - 12.5. 10 500k 12 1000 11.5. 450k 11 400k 800 10.5 350k 10 600 300k * 9.5. 1.395 million 250k 400 8.5 200k 200 150k 7.5 100k 6.5 50k 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Ok I U.S. TOTAL 5.5 • Coal Cost I Natural Gas CostA Petrolium Cost X Fossil Fuel Cost • Environmental Cost 99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 *Total shipments minus export shipments. Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding. Total shipments include those made in or shipped to U.S. Territories. Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-63B, "Annual Photovoltaic Module/Cell Manufac- turers Survey: Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-423, "Monthly Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants Report," Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Form 423, "Monthly Report of Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants," Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report;" Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report." 524,2 35,310 -5 19,838 -8 21,201-8 Photovoltic Cells And Modules* Cost (s/w) Cents/MMBtu