Electical Contractor

In the quest to make solar power a mainstream electrical power generation source, improving photovoltaic cells’ efficiency has been the industry’s Holy Grail.

In late July, the renewable-energy developer Terra-Gen Power broke ground on what it hopes to be the world’s largest wind-generation project. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles.

Solar and wind power continue to grab the majority of headlines in the ongoing coverage of the growth of renewable power. Now, at least one other alternative-energy source has been quietly rising—literally and figuratively—in global use and awareness.

With all the current hype -surrounding the development of renewable power, one looming question remains. The proverbial elephant in the room is whether existing infrastructure is adequate to transmit all of this newly generated electricity from solar, wind, biomass and other green sources.

Even during the Recession, the alternative-energy market has remained strong, either holding its own or growing. Throw a stick, and you will hit a project incorporating green power. It is a market driven by consumer interest, generous incentives and improving payback.

Interior secretary Ken Salazar approved the Cape Wind renewable-energy project on federal submerged lands in Nantucket Sound, which has long been the focus of debate in the state.

In the continuing struggle to overcome competitive disadvantages, one path for greater penetration of renewable power into the nation’s energy markets might be to join the entrenched fuel sources with which it has always struggled to compete.

While the nation and the world stumbled economically, at least one industry grew in stride and is now helping revive markets around the globe.

Already a pioneer in the field of renewable-energy policy, Colorado has taken another bold step by raising the bar for utilities and the power they provide. In March, Gov. Bill Ritter signed legislation that will require 30 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable power by 2020.