Clouds loom over solar panel ramp up

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In the face of uncertain markets and policies, solar panel makers are ramping up factories in hopes of driving costs down to a competitive level. One market watcher said she will revise her forecasts for solar panels based on the financial crisis in the U.S. combined with uncertainty about renewal of federal tax credits here and a pullback of major solar plans in Spain. Without incentives, we don't have a market, period," said Paula Mints, a principal analyst at Navigant Consulting (Palo Alto, Calif.), speaking at a solar event sponsored by the IEEE here. Several speakers here also complained about a lack of federal funds for research in solar energy, something Tim Anderson, associate dean of research at the University of Florida, said he hopes will change soon. "The reputation in the academic... [read full story]