I read this great article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard about solar power called, "Monday View, Cheap Solar Power Poised to Undercut Oil and Gas by half." The article was online at the Telegraph.co.uk website. According to the article, solar power may be the leader in the energy market in only a decade, by undercutting fossil fuel prices by half. In as little as five years, solar power wattage prices may be so low as to directly compete with fossil fuels even in sometimes gloomy countries like England, Scandinavia and Siberia. The secret to this amazing prospect is simply improved solar technology. One of the leaders in this realm is Anil Sethi, of the Swiss start-up company, Flisom. This company's solar material is 200 times (!) lighter than glass-based solar materials and can be mass-produced. Because of its lightweight consistency, it can be applied directly to buildings and can be made into matching colors. This material is a foil; it functions by absorbing light via freeing electrons. The material can produce solar power even on cold, cloudy days--so, I guess all of the solar-power skeptics will have to forget their argument that solar power isn't feasible anywhere other than in hot, sunny climates. Other companies, such as the U.S. company of Applied Materials, is getting into the game of cheaper solar technology, as well. The best part of more accessible solar power seems to be what it could do for less-developed nations--i.e., no need for power lines or fuel trucks in rural areas or those dreaded open kerosene stoves.

Anil Sethi's motto is one that will hopefully become the slogan for alternative energy as a whole: "We don't need subsidies; we just need governments to get out of the way and do no harm." Instead of our world leaders pushing coal or nuclear power or being tied to the oil industry, they should let solar power have its day and shine--literally and figuratively. Apparently, the free market in the solar power industry is working just fine on its own.