Focus on Big Holds Solar Back in U.S.

While the U.S. government lavishes loan guarantees and expedites review of projects on public land for multi-megawatt and even gigawatt solar projects, it’s small-scale solar that’s turning sunshine into electricity.

by John Farrell, Senior Researcher – Energy Policy, Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ISLR). Follow John on Twitter @johnffarrell .

An article in the New York Times recently suggested that a dearth of financing is holding back solar power in the United States. In particular, the authors note that “the country needs to build large plants covering hundreds of acres,” projects that can cost $1 billion. These large solar projects are languishing without financing, they assert, in part because of the lengthy process to claim federal government loan guarantees and because “Bankers generally prefer smaller, less risky projects and shorter-term loans than the 20-year terms solar plants typically need.”

Focus on Big Holds Solar Back in U.S.