By Ryan Koronowski | Climate Progress
Solar power could supply one-third of the West’s power needs by 2050 if federal cost-reduction targets are met and the region adopts reasonable carbon policies, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
The cost of solar has been declining rapidly, and it has proliferated in use faster than many thought possible. The U.S. recently became one of four other countries to reach 10 gigawatts of solar capacity. Still, it has barely crested one percent of total energy production in the United States. As the twin trends of lower cost and increased distribution accelerate, the stark reality remains: transitioning the electric grid more completely to renewables could be expensive and difficult.
