In the midst of the largest scandal to rock the U.S. solar industry, the Department of Energy is plowing ahead with a series of smaller initiatives that could help sun-fueled electricity compete with conventional energy supplies.
The goal of the DOE's SunShot Initiative is to trim the costs of owning and operating solar systems by 75 percent by 2020. This month, just days after California solar firm Solyndra's collapse sparked criticism of President Obama's clean energy push, the department doled out more than $145 million in grants to nearly 70 advanced solar technology projects. [Read the whole story here.]