Outlook brighter for U.S. solar capacity

I'm starting to think of the solar industry as the little engine that could. Despite all the public debate over expenses, challenges with financing programs, and other market inhibitors, there is a new report out that suggests there could be 1 gigawatt of installed solar power technology installed in this year alone.

The research from the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research suggest that capacity growth of both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power technologies could increase by 100 percent this year, compared with last year. That's based on the fast pace of projects that happened in the first six months of 2010. Some specific numbers:

• 341 megawatts were installed in the first six months of 2010; projections call for installations of 944 megawatts in solar electric capacity during 2010
• California was the leading state for installations, followed by New Jersey, Arizona and Florida
• Installations of solar heating and cooling systems also increased during the first half of 2010, with Hawaii leading the way in growth
• The industry's goal is for 10 gigawatts of solar to be installed each year by 2015