What the US needs is a lobbying group similar to ESTIF (http://www.estif.org/3.0.html). Unfortunately no such thing exists for the US as far as I can tell.

The ESTIF has outlined what needs to change to make the viability of Solar Thermal to stand out (again, see http://www.estif.org/3.0.html). Summarized these things are:
1) Energy statistics to fully show solar thermal. The current metrics the government uses to measure viability are screwed up, but with proper metrics like $/Watt, and readiness metrics, Solar Thermal ends up on top.
2) Testing and Certification needs to be standardized.
3) All the true costs of the alternatives are not being considered. This needs to change.
4) The Government needs to establish minimums and provide industries with the information they need to correctly asses how solar thermal can meet those minimums as compared to other energy sources.

Another thing is to contact the PR departments of solel and other solar thermal players and ask from a concerned citizen’s point of view how you can help. You might get a blank stare, or on the otherhand, maybe you’ll get offered a new job as a grassroots effort organizer.

Good luck! Tell me how it turns out!

We need someone with billions to starting ranting on truly viable solutions - like the troughs - to bring more attention to it - like Gore does on the not so vaible alternatives. I want it to move past simply being hip to be Green. I surely didn’t know anything about these troughs until I stumbled upon this blog.

I’ve been researching the troughs more. Can you suggest additional resources to find easy to understand information? I’m joining the movement on my end and will begin writing legislatures and posts on my blog and to my family and friends.

Thanks!

It’s all about politics. PV solar is a cheap and easy way for politicians to placate the masses - enacting laws to promote PV solar adoption by consumers is easy and cheap. Politicians also wrongly assume PV shifts the cost burden to the consumer instead of the government. They are dead wrong - the math for PV solar simply doesn’t work. The manufacturing processes alone simply do not make it feasible as a viable solution in any way whatsoever. This vital piece of information is what’s missing in the public dialog today. Solar thermal, not Solar PV, along with some help from wind, is the only viable solution - and the technology is ready today … at grid-competitive rates if not grid-busting rates.

I also feel the same that we are seeking alternative energy generation from the wrong sources: flourescent lights, hydrogen cell fueled cars, etc. We are advocating to “transfer addictions” so to speak by replacing one beast with another rather than focusing on developing real solutions.

I just saw a documentary on PBS about Germany paying their citizens to farm solor panels literally on farms and the solar-PVs on homes on a grand scale. They may have discussed these troughs on the acres of farms that farm energy, I don’t recall the difference, however. The point is, Germany is doing on a large scale what America says is not possible. Germany gets it.

Thanks again for the energy lesson.