Anatomy of a Solar Power Boom: Can the Industry Keep it Going?

As expected, 2013 was yet another record year for solar in the U.S. With 5.1 gigawatts of PV and CSP coming online, the solar industry was the second largest provider of electricity capacity behind natural gas. But how long will it continue? With a tax credit expiration looming, conflicts over net metering and a brewing solar trade war, it is far from assured that this boom will go on forever. This week, we’ll talk with Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, about how the industry is positioning itself in the face of these challenges. Then, we’ll talk about Opower’s coming IPO and ask what it will take for the company to continue dominating the efficiency sector. In our final segment, we’ll look at whether the “energy crisis” episode in season two of House of Cards is based at all in reality. (Note: there will be minor spoilers.) The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey.