Source: Possible U.S., China trade dispute looms – USATODAY.com.

In September, the Department of Energy said that only about 6% of the solar cells and modules sold around the world were made in the U.S., compared with more than 40% in 1995. In the last six years, China’s global market share has ballooned to 54% from 6%. The average price of solar modules has plummeted more than 40% to $1.25 per watt in the past two years.

The U.S. prides itself on being the leader of high technology. We depend on it to keep jobs here in the country. So when I see numbers like the above I am somewhat concerned. It is not that I don’t want to see the Chinese people’s quality of life advance. Lord knows they have a long way to go to catch up with us. Instead I lament the fact that we let these types of forward-looking jobs leave our shores without much concern.

Maybe it comes back to the fact that so many in this country have put all their eggs in the “oil” basket. They think that all this wind and solar stuff is just a flash in the pan. As what seems to be usual lately the rest of the world is embracing renewable energy much more seriously than we do.  It just might be too late now to get our share of the solar energy manufacturing here in the U.S.  if we don’t embrace this technology soon.

But what do I know….