Wildcatting the Sun A Texas Solar Roadmap (2009)
This report was prepared in February 2009 by Public Citizen, Environment Texas and Vote Solar. The document looks at the various factors and technology needed to not only supply Texas’ energy needs but make Texas a world leader in solar energy.
Three solar technologies are discussed; photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar water heaters. The report goes into detail discussing the different variations and advantages each technology possesses. Various charts and photos show applications and cost benefit analysis.
Solar energy storage systems such as compressed air energy storage (CAES), Hydrogen/fuel cells, flywheels and batteries are also addressed.
The report also explains that with the right economic incentives (discussed in detail), as many as 21,500 jobs could be created by 2020 under a 2000 MW program. “According to a PV industry analysis, with the correct incentives in place, the solar photovoltaic market could attract more than a $34 billion investment by 2015. Of that, Texas could attract almost $5 billion.”
Ten policy recommendations are given at the end of the report that the authors feel would help increase the chances of Texas becoming a global leader in solar energy output.
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