RE: So, where do I go to get my cheap solar panels?
Simple answer— FREE MARKET. If solar power is meant to be cheap, it is meant to be cheap. If it isn’t, it isn’t.
Even if the Chinese gave us solar panels free-of-charge, solar power would be a foolish bet for mass generation. The sun gives at most 1kw per sq. meter -- and that's when it's shining of course.
That can't be magnified and it takes square mile after square mile of ugly panels to generate the juice to keep a small town lit. Solar power is a nice add-on to a house or office building, but lighting a country with it is insane.