Solar Energy: Myth or Reality

Summary: First developed in the 1950s by NASA for space exploration, solar energy was never really considered as a reliable source of energy for widespread use because of its high cost and limited output. But today, thanks to major cost reductions, advance in technology, and rise in oil prices, solar power has become a serious energy option for the future. But how can we apply it to our modern world in the most sensible way? From the Southwestern United States, Northern France, to the isolated and rural parts of Africa, supporters of renewable energy tell us how they have become "solar pioneers" and how this alternative form of energy can contribute and improve daily lives around the world.