In 2011 the US Department of Energy (DOE) set a target as part of their SunShot Initiative that the cost of solar power should reach a very competitive $1 per watt, or 6 cents per kilowatt hour, by 2020. Last week they announced they had reached this target a full three years ahead of schedule and expect this cost to drop even further. This is a significant benchmark for those in working with buildings and power grids, who should by now know that solar is the smartest choice for the evolution of their energy generation needs. The 6 cents per kilowatt hour rate is not simply the lowest cost we have seen for solar power generation in the US, it is a rate achieved in Kansas City, the department’s mid-range yardstick. Lower cost has already been achieved in states with abundant sunlight such as Arizona and New Mexico, and while rates in northern states like […]