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The recent failure of Solyndra, tubular PV manufacturer with a $535M federal loan guarantee, has resulted in a veritable hemorrhage of falsehoods from the body of devotees of fossil fuels. Although it is not clear that the loan guarantee will be needed to satisfy Solyndra’s creditors, all manner of empty talking heads have blathered on about how bad this is for U.S. taxpayers, and how no jobs have been created in the ‘Green Economy’. It is this last part that is particularly troubling, since the exact opposite is true; thousands of green jobs have been created, but the profound lack of actual journalism in the community of political pundits has obscured this reality. In case you have been wondering about this, the Solar Energy Industries Association has gathered a few statistics in rebuttal to the ignorant chatter emanating from the boobs on the tube:
Here are the facts about solar:
- The solar industry employs more than 100,000 Americans, more than twice as many as in 2009. They work at more than 5,000 companies, the vast majority being small businesses, in all 50 states.
- The U.S. solar industry grew by 69% in the past year, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy.
- Since the beginning of 2010, the price of solar panels has dropped by 30%, and costs continue to fall making solar an even more viable choice for residential and business customers.
- The U.S. was a net exporter of solar products in 2010 by $2 billion. We were even a net exporter to China.
- Solar power in the U.S. now exceeds 3,100 megawatts (MW), enough to power more than 630,000 homes.
- Continued industry growth enhances our energy security and diversifies our domestic energy portfolio.
