By Sharryn Harvey, Online Editor, Power Engineering magazine
As the price of solar panels drop and the demand heats up, more and more Americans say they would prefer to install solar panels in their homes or businesses compared to any other renewable source.

However, many of those same people who said they would use solar also said they really do not know much about where to get solar technology or even what it is and how it works.

A recent poll from Kelton Research showed that 92 percent of Americans said they believe the United States should develop and use solar energy, compared to the 17 percent who picked wind, 12 percent who wanted natural gas and 10 percent for nuclear. The results also show that 77 percent of Americans believed the government should make renewable energy development a top priority.

However, in the same survey, 74 percent of Americans said they wish they had more information about solar development and technology compared to 12 percent who said they were "extremely informed" about it.

SEIA co-commissioned the Solar Barometer along with Schott Solar for the second year in a row. Results from 2008 are similar, with 94 percent of Americans saying they think it is important for the country to develop and use solar energy, and 77 percent believing the government should make renewable energy development a top priority.

Some utilities, like Southern California Edison and Austin Energy, already have programs in place that inform customers about where to get solar panels, how much they may cost, and even what incentives are in place for buying them.

Vanessa McGrady, media spokeswoman with SCE, said the utility created the California Solar Initiative just for that purpose.

"We're trying to be enablers for solar," McGrady said.

About 6,000 customers are currently learning about solar power through SCE and the number grows each year, McGrady said. The program helps people know what they are getting into when it comes to installing solar in their homes or businesses.

"Getting into solar isn't something you do on a whim," McGrady said. "There are upfront costs and you have to make sure your house is energy efficient and that you're getting the right-sized system."

The program works like this: Anyone interested in installing solar panels fills out an Energy Efficiency Audit, which determines where the home or business is not energy efficient and could lower the need for a bigger, more expensive solar system.

Next, the customers select a licensed contractor to install solar panels. The contractor may apply for incentives and permits on the customer's behalf. After that is complete, the customer is ready to apply and install the system. After it passes inspection, the customer will receive their rebate or payment.

The Department of Energy on October 8 awarded Austin Energy a $450,000 cautionary grant for its Solar For Schools program through funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Solar For Schools introduces students across the city to solar energy by installing pole-mounted panels that generate electricity for the schools. So far, 11 schools have solar arrays.

Courtesy Austin Energy
A pole-mounted solar panel outside of a school in Austin.

Students will then monitor energy production via a statewide website and Austin Energy is working with science teachers to develop a curriculum that will teach students about solar energy.

Austin Energy is also working to get rebates to customers who install solar panels on homes and buildings. So far, about 900 systems are installed equaling about 3 MW of peak power.

"We committed 75 percent of our fiscal year 2009 budget to it," said Mark Kapner, who is part of Austin Energy's strategic planning group. "We've also installed dozens of systems ourselves around the city and on 20 middle schools, mostly to show people it works and it's here."

Courtesy Austin Energy
Solar panels shade commuters at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Even the federal government is getting in the mix by offering ""Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments," an online resource from the Department of Energy that helps local governments develop a plan for solar using a range of models that have been tested and proven in cities around the nation.

Jared Blanton, assistant communications manager with the Solar Energy Industries Association, said these programs are good examples of how everyone can help get the information out to the public about solar power.

"What we've been hearing as we go around the country is that people love solar, but there's a lack of information," Blanton said. "I think utilities know solar is the future based on how they're educating their customers."

Blanton said SEIA and Schott Solar hoped the Solar Barometer would make the public —and Congress— take notice.

"We hope that members of Congress see this poll because the public is way ahead of Congress," Blanton said.

Matthew Kraft, public relations manager with Schott Solar North America, said the survey was initially supposed to give a push to an investment tax credit making its way through Congress that was set to expire at the end of 2008 before the recession hit. Instead, it was blended into the bailout bill and passed.

This year's report had a different purpose. "We just wanted to show there is support for solar and that it is more popular than wind, natural gas and nuclear," Kraft said. "We want to run this every year and gauge the public's interest and education level and get a benchmark for how the public feels about solar power in general."

Why the public sees a bright future for solar power boils down to three things: It's reliable, it's affordable and it can raise property values.

"I think it's because they can get more bang for the buck," Kraft said. "If they put it on their house, with feed-in tariffs, rebates and other incentives, they can see how it pays off now on their energy bills."