Switching to solar isn’t cheap, but it is getting less expensive and to help push the adoption business needs incentives from the government. The big Abengoa Solar plant near Gila Bend won’t be built if the federal government doesn’t extend a investment tax incentive for solar.

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It’s only going to provide a fraction of the power the convention center uses, but I suppose it’s a start. It sounds like the panels they are going to use are less efficient and more expensive, I wonder if more traditional panels would have been a better idea?

The simple idea that gave us stickers and budget floor tiles will help power the Phoenix Convention Center.

In early April, crews will install peel-and-stick solar panels on roughly a third of the West Building’s 2-acre roof.

The panels will help supply power to the building, which was completed in 2006. How much of a dent that will put in its power consumption is unknown, but the amount is probably a small fraction of what the building will use, city officials say.

The important thing, says Councilman Greg Stanton, is that the panels are a groundbreaking effort for Phoenix.

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This last Friday’s topic on NPR’s Talk of the Nation Science Friday focus’ on the potential of solar to power the country. Topics covered include the solar thermal plant that is planned near Gila Bend. Guests include Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Head over to NPR and listen online. click here

Nova had a great episode all about solar power. They cover solar for home, large scale solar plants, and incentives for solar. Support by the German government has made solar a huge industry there. In America business is supporting solar in a big way. What does the future of solar have in store for us? Paint on solar collectors for our roofs? Is it time to take solar seriously? Find out by watching a repeat showing of this on PBS March 18th, check local listings, or watch it now online here.

Eventually I’d love to be able to put solar panels on my house, keep the tax incentives coming.

As Arizona looks to tap more of its most abundant resource, sunshine, state lawmakers want to help make that happen by creating tax breaks for power-plant builders and helping homeowners, businesses and schools convert to solar power.

At least six bills this session address solar energy.

Article at azcentral.com