A big week for solar energy being in the news, both locally and worldwide.One notable event is the first solar panel production in Washington taking place in Arlington as Silicon Energy's panels begin coming off the line.
With made-in-Washington panels (disclosure: those in the know now call them "solar modules", but I haven't quite caught up to the new lingo) now available the incentive for utility customers having solar goes way up. PSE and other utilities administer a state program where homeowners with solar panels receive a "production payment" based on how much energy their solar system produces.
The basic rate is .15 cents per kilowatt, but can rise to as much as .54 cents with a "made-in-Washington" system. Clearly, having made-in-Washington panels is a big deal from a financial standpoint if you are contemplating solar energy. 
PSE also offers "net metering," where customers receive a credit for any extra energy they generate, such as on a sunny day when your solar panels are producing plenty of electricity but you're not home. The two-way "net meter" we install (seen here at right) allows this energy to go back into the grid for use by other customers. Then, at times when you need more energy than you're system is producing, you can draw on those credits and get back the energy you've banked.
In essence, PSE acts like a big, maintenance free battery that stores extra power for when you need it.
In news further from home, some experts also believe solar panel prices are dropping due to the economy, and also on news that more big players from around the world are ramping up production. As with most things, though, the race to lead the way in solar is not without controversy over fair competition.
On PSE's end, we've seen solar growing rapidly, with more than 450 PSE customers now having solar systems connected to the grid, compared to 300 in 2008 and 200 in 2007. Many local installers are now seeing their business grow as a result.
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