Innovations in senior living can keep solar firms afloat

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 14, 2012

~~<p>Motivated by political unrest in the Middle East, rising energy prices and global warming, both our federal and state governments now offer attractive tax benefits for solar systems in both the residential and commercial setting. The combination of economic and environmental benefits has spurred an impressive spike in investment, a proliferation of new solar companies, job creation and rapid consumer adoption. Yet, the solar industry in its current form is a flash in the pan.</p>
<p>One industry leader describes the trend as a "race to the bottom." Hoku Corp., seen by many as a star around the time of its initial public offering several years ago, now has all the makings of an early casualty. In an effort to vertically integrate the business, one of its two subsidiaries, Hoku Materials, has stalled while trying to build a polysilicon plant in Idaho. Unfortunately, in the time it has taken to get bricks and mortar in place, photovoltaic prices have plummeted. Hoku is nearly out of cash and struggling to restructure.</p>
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Motivated by political unrest in the Middle East, rising energy prices and global warming, both our federal and state governments now offer attractive tax benefits for solar systems in both the residential and commercial setting. The combination of economic and environmental benefits has spurred an impressive spike in investment, a proliferation of new solar companies, job creation and rapid consumer adoption. Yet, the solar industry in its current form is a flash in the pan.

One industry leader describes the trend as a "race to the bottom." Hoku Corp., seen by many as a star around the time of its initial public offering several years ago, now has all the makings of an early casualty. In an effort to vertically integrate the business, one of its two subsidiaries, Hoku Materials, has stalled while trying to build a polysilicon plant in Idaho. Unfortunately, in the time it has taken to get bricks and mortar in place, photovoltaic prices have plummeted. Hoku is nearly out of cash and struggling to restructure. Login for more...