According to the solar industry, the future is very bright. Industry leaders announced this week that when tax breaks for solar producers run out in 2016, the solar industry will be just fine without them. In fact they believe that solar will achieve grid parity, meaning that it will be the cheapest form of electricity on the market.

Some are saying this date could be even sooner. In some parts of the country solar may reach grid parity by 2012, four short years away. In today's world I should be used to how quickly technology can develop and improve upon itself, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this news.

Of course solar will come down in price, but this change is partly due to the rise in oil and coal prices. All experts seem to be in agreement that we will never return to the energy prices of five or ten years ago. Even if our energy does become renewable, sustainability may still be key to keep prices down. Those of us who have been practicing it all along will really have a leg up!

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