WayneS

The Solar Energy Market Has Bottomed

What is a subsidy? The definition changes every 5 seconds to accommodate the blogger. Look "subsidy" up on WIKI- encyclopedia. There are 20 definitions and they all end [citation needed].
Most dictionaries say that a subsidy is a grant,i.e., not money, given to a private person or a corporation for the benefit of the public.
A home mortgage is a subsidy. We itemize costs to own a home. We spend big bucks to reduce our Income Tax by a little, but many others wouldn't have a job without this subsidy.
A mall is given a subsidy by a small town within a megacity. They lower the property tax to the mall, counting on getting rich on sales tax.
States promised oil field developers a subsidy on royalties for them to develop oil fields in an area (Gulf of Mexico) that they would lose money paying the set royalties. In this way the states are getting billions in royalties rather than nothing.
The trucking industry gets an indirect subsidy. Railroads pay 100% of the upkeep of their roads. Truckers pay less than 50%. The majority of truckers are individuals or small companies. This provides a lot of jobs.
Politicians don't give something for nothing. They want to be reelected again and again. Lobbying and moneys-donated tactics don't work anymore than TV ads work on you and me.
If it might impede them from being elected, they won't do it.

Four Problems Facing Solar Power Companies

I too, see solar as a structural energy rather than a grid energy. I retired last year and am living in a 5th wheel & travelling for the time being. I'm thinking when I build my retirement home, why not make the lights 12 volt and run off of solar/battery like the trailer. My cousin built a vacation home in Mexico and it runs on a home-made solar system. Here in Texas, they are erecting thousands of wind generators, but no one wants power lines across their property, hence a problem with grid distribution. Maybe money can be made from the companies that supply Home Depot with the DIY.
I seem to remember that in the 60s or 70s a large solar collector was built in AZ and it developed its own environ and clouds formed over it. These are just randoms thoughts. Since retiring, I have been approached by a dozen energy companies (probably mom&pop) offering me a job. Are we trying to find a solution or just money-making schemes?