With rising gas prices in mind, citizens nationwide are beginning to call for more research into alternative resources that could help relieve U.S. reliance on foreign oil.
The nation's current focus is on combating the gasoline crisis. However, there is also a need to increase research in the area of general energy consumption.
The largely fossil fuel-powered energy plants that provide electricity to our homes are not tapping into a major available resource: solar power.
With many hot, cloudless days, Arizona could easily become a leading power in solar energy research and use.
However, according to John Talton of The Arizona Republic, the biggest push for solar energy use is occurring in California -- not Arizona. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to put solar panels on the roofs of 1 million houses by 2018.
Arizona has fallen behind when it comes to using solar power. Although the Arizona Corporation Commission has ruled that at least 15 percent of total energy sold must come from renewable sources by 2025, the mandate is being met with criticism. Utility companies think that mandates are unfair.
However, in a state as sunny and hot as Arizona, it seems ridiculous that more isn't being done to make solar energy a major source of power.
Mike Pasqualetti, ASU geography professor and chair of the Arizona Solar Energy Advisory Council, said that solar energy is much more practical than most people think.
For example, although solar power is initially a costly investment, it pays off fairly quickly.
"I consider the argument that it's too costly to be the most misleading argument against solar power," Pasqualetti said.
He said that adding the cost of solar panels -- usually around $10,000 to $12,000 -- to the cost of building a new house is not a substantial price increase.
And even in older homes, the seemingly expensive panels will pay for themselves within 10 years -- especially if the homeowner is able to go completely off grid and start selling energy back to the utility companies.
Another common argument against solar energy is that it takes up too much land. And Pasqualetti argues that covering large areas of land with panels doesn't make much sense anyway.
"Why would you want to take the most widespread resource in the world and put it into a centralized arrangement?" Pasqualetti asked. "Why centralize a resource that's inheritably decentralized?"
He said that it makes more sense to put solar panels on the rooftops of individual homes and businesses, just like Schwarzenegger's plan proposes.
The rooftop panels are fairly inconspicuous. For example, many students don't realize there are solar panels on top of ASU's Parking Structure 3, helping power the University.
But Pasqualetti said instead of just focusing on costs, it is important to look at the environmental benefits as well. Solar energy eliminates the problems of pollution, health issues and acid rain caused by coal.
Even if Arizonans continue to think solar energy is too costly, the state is still in a position to become a leading authority in research.
ASU's Polytechnic campus has one of the world's leading solar testing facilities. Pasqualetti said that ASU also has more than 50 employees with Ph.D.s who specialize in energy. But because ASU has no centralized energy center, the outside world is unaware of the University's potential.
"We could be a world leader in development, education, outreach and research," Pasqualetti said.
ASU needs to provide more support for solar energy development. Pasqualetti said the University could probably build an energy center for less money than it makes off of one football game.
Despite his and other professors' efforts, Pasqualetti said ASU has not made any plans to build a center. He said ASU won't do it unless they get the funding upfront. But without the center, it is difficult to get the funding because possible donors don't realize ASU is a good investment.
It is time for ASU to take a chance and put itself in a position to become a part of some major developments in the renewable energy field. Although Vice Provost of Research John Fink could not be reached for comment, it seems clear that ASU is not taking the steps necessary to take advantage of these opportunities.
In the meantime, the temperature in Arizona isn't getting any cooler. And unlike non-renewable energy sources, the sun isn't going anywhere.
Stephanie Berger is a journalism junior. Reach her at stephanie.m.berger@asu.edu.
