[DBrow]

The subsidy is slated to end and the prices predicted to fall. Well I know that coincidence is not causality, but it does make me wonder if there may be the possibility of a connection between government involvement and high prices.

[randog]

...it does make me wonder if there may be the possibility of a connection between government involvement and high prices.

Two words: College Tuition.

[r9etb]

but it does make me wonder if there may be the possibility of a connection between government involvement and high prices.

Probably the opposite. As the article states, one of the biggest costs was in getting sufficient production capacity. The government subsidies would have helped to create that capacity without generating correspondingly high prices for the buyer.

[weaponeer]

The subsidy is slated to end and the prices predicted to fall.

I wish. I've been hearing the same promises for 30 years, since I first started following solar issues. I have my own home PV system, and I'm always looking to expand it, so I follow the industry pretty closely. Always promises of a breakthrough just around the corner.

Those who talk about solar being "almost" competitive with other forms of electric generation are always talking about high subsidies. Well, if the gov't totally subsidized solar, it would be, like, free. Wouldn't that be great? [/s]