Dark Side of Solar Cells Brightens

It takes power to make power—even with a solar grand plan. From the mining of quartz sand to the coating with ethylene-vinyl acetate, manufacturing a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell requires energy—most often derived from the burning of fossil fuels. But a new analysis finds that even accounting for all the energy and waste involved, PV power would cut air pollution—including the greenhouse gases that cause climate change—by nearly 90 percent if it replaced fossil fuels.

The use of soler cells as a source of power (even after accounting for the emissions made making them) could cut green house gasses by 90%. Thats allot. But “could” and “will” are 2 very different things. What we need is for the government for pay a portion (say half) of the price for soler panels for those who put them on the roofs of there houses or apartment buddings and a large advertising campaign to get people to put soler panels on there roofs. Now only would it make people power bills go down (thus more spending money thus better economy) it will help reduce green house gasses and slow global warming.