SOLAR RESEARCH FUNDING FADING

The U.S. needs a solar energy revolution. But it’s laying off solar energy researchers

Chelsea Harvey, October 8, 2015 (Washington Post)

“…[Fifteen solar research staff members at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) were laid off] due to federal funding cuts…And another 40 to 60 staff members are expected to be lost through a voluntary separation program that the lab will initiate…Almost all of the researchers already laid off were involved in ‘next generation,’ or long-term, solar research…It’s the latest sign of a trend that experts say is undermining U.S. efforts to promote alternative energy: Federal funding for solar energy research has declined steadily over the past several years, despite emphasis from the Obama administration on continued investment in research and development of clean energy technologies…[It seems] to decline a little more every year…[T]hey have occurred despite significantly higher budget requests each year from the White House…” click here for more

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