[AlexW]

While I am all in favor of alternative energy sources, most of them are far too sugarcoated.
Anything exposed to the elements is a constant maintenance
problem. UV rays, tree sap, bugs, smoke, heat, lightning, freezing... you name it.
While new solar panels may be far advanced over the last few years, they still do not overcome the maintenance factor.

When you have a problem with a public utility, you call and they fix it at no charge.
When your megabuck solar panel acts up, you call a high priced technical company to come clean the bug or bird doo, repair the frozen pipe, clean off the tree sap, or whatever.

I had a friend that tried wind generated electricity. It was
the most expensive and unreliable electricity in his life.

When in Romania back in 2004, I saw many large apartment buildings that had been heated with massive solar collectors that were mounted on the roofs during the commie era.
All of them are now just rusting scrap iron, not worth the cost of removing.

[Tokra]

While new solar panels may be far advanced over the last few years, they still do not overcome the maintenance factor.

Yes they do - there are new solar panels that are roofing shingles. You re-roof your house with those instead of ordinary shingles. They don't look much different that other roofing materials. They produce 123W per square meter - the roof on a 45' X 60' house will produce enough electricity to supply an average family. Zero maintenance and free electricity to boot. They are lightweight and wind & water proof. They are also guaranteed for 20 years.

Ovonics has come out with a thin flexible solar panel that can be rolled up like a roll of Saran wrap - again no maintenance.

[weaponeer]

While new solar panels may be far advanced over the last few years, they still do not overcome the maintenance factor.

I've had a bunch of Solarex MSX60 PV panels up on my roof for 13 years now. All I've ever done is hose the dust off two or three times when it went too long between rains to clean them naturally. Other than that, not a single maintenance issue in 13 years. And that's here in Texas where we regularly get lightning, high winds, and hail.

[qam1]

While I am all in favor of alternative energy sources, most of them are far too sugarcoated.

Compare 1989 vs 2004 when the earliest & latest numbers are available.

In 1989 Wind, Solar and Geothermal combined made up 0.61% of our power generation

15 years later, with all the new plants and farms, Gazillion of dollars and tax breaks for subsidizes and research, in 2004 those numbers only increased to 0.79% of our power generation. And almost all of that "BIG" gain was made by wind.

We've been hearing about how cheaper and more efficient solar panels are just around the corner for 50 years now. And with out fail, solar (and these other alternative energies) has overpromised and underdelivered every single time.

Solar will never be viable, no matter what breakthrough comes down the pike you just can't get around those pesky Laws of Thermodynamics