My Question: Why are we exporting our solar cells?

[MsHojat]

First of all, The problem is the world's power crisis, not just united states. Pollution from carbon dioxide and other warming gasses are a GLOBAL problem, it does not matter where you move these solar panels.

Secondly,

Obviously the USA is exporting the panels because SOMEONE is paying MORE for them, so obviously the demand IS NOT greater domestically than in the foreign countries. Most countries in Europe are MUCH more energy concious than USA.

USA will not just export for no reason, silly.

[jamescgale]

Solar Cells, Jobs, Money.... It's all going over seas. Thank you Politicians. Thank you Barney Frank.

[whateverman1000]

Sorry, this is off topic, but I read your letter to the editor of the New York Times. Thank You! You said exactly what I feel.

[Spambolaya]

I believe this was a question for a debate. A lot of good it did...

[tstatech]

Spambolya, I give you your due respect for your contribution to humanity as a doctor and for doing your part for the country as well as the environment. I assume you where asking this qustion to a presidential candidate? I would hope you were not suggesting that we have any restrictions on selling P.V.s or other products to foreign markets. The only thing the government can and should do is to give greater incentives to research,manufactures,contract­ors and building owners.

[goboats]

we got are wires crossed lol ,it sounded like your claim was running 100% of your needs from the panels,which would have been missleading,i should have assumed that you had a grid tied system that was sending power down the grid, sounds like a costly set up ,and i would love to see it! but its not just panels,a grid tied inverter is at least $2500 alone,then theres,wiring,switches, and controlers,most people cant afford the outlay.what was yours @15-20 thousand maybe more?

[goboats]

The big prob with wind or solar is operating large loads like fridg, freezers,ovens and so on....The hurtle realy is the storage.The batteries just cant run these units for any period of time,and a grid tied system give u credits but its costly and still depends on the grid,so really the cost of panels is not an issue but how to transfer large loads of AC is.

[Spambolaya]

We have a refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, A/C, computers, video games, TVs, just like everyone else. Our 5 Kw array supplies 100% of our needs--in fact, this year the electric company paid us $12. After rebates and tax credits, the array will pay for itself in 5-6 years. It's a lot less expensive than a small car. I agree that an appropriate battery to operate off-grid would be great, but it is a fallacy that solar power is prohibitively expensive or inadequate. Not so.

[goboats]

there is no way your running that stuff right off the panels,and or batteries ,what u have is a grid tied system that pulls in the equivelent of what your uses are and sends it down the grid to ballance out your bill ,but the 200 amp service in your panel comes in from the grid to service those unit with large ampers

[Spambolaya]

For some reason, you think you know more about my solar system than I do. So you're welcome to come over sometime and watch my electric meter run backward while the refrigerator, washer, diswasher, and computer are all running at the same time.

[DJLorenzen]

The solar companies sell to the highest bidder no matter where they live.

If they export them then simply because they get a higher price there :-)

[nickrhill]

Look at solarbuzz and see that prices in America are a lot lower than in Europe.

Perhaps the prices quoted in America are optimistic, given global demand, hence, at those prices, there is no immediate supply. Companies ship solar panels to where they will get most money.

[America having most raw material to produce solar panels] is a red herring. Shortage of solar-grade processed silicon is worldwide. The precursor, sand, is abundant on all continents.

[nerys71]

Spambolaya says it perfectly. THE LAST thing they want us to have is Electric Cars or Solar Panels affordably.

[Spambolaya]

I think the answer is simple: Once you buy your solar array, you no longer have to pay anybody ever for your electricity. So, if you're corporate America, why would you want to produce something like that, when you can invest in oil, ethanol, or hydrogen, and keep the consumer "filling up" forever?