The heading of this article may seem like old news. However, consider how many people you know that have solar power as a primary source for their home. We probably all have knowledge of it, we know from a previous article that it is mature at 60 years old, and we hear about it all the time but it isn't mainstream until it starts to be ubiquitous. There is evidence that solar is now reaching maturity in the market place and not just technical maturity.

The push towards renewable energy over the last 10 years has created rapid growth for solar power, with signs that the industry is really starting to become mainstream. According to Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Association (SEIA), solar is now the fastest growing energy industry in the U.S. with massive growth predicted over the next five years.

"We can install so much solar energy that we will eliminate the need for any new coal or nuclear power plants in the U.S. ever again," say Resch.

The solar industry's gains continued with last week's announcement by the Department of the Interior that it will issue permits allowing the first utility-scale solar project on federal land. Over the last twenty years, 74,000 permits have been approved for oil and gas drilling on public lands and up until last week solar had received zero. This is an important step in the right direction.

Read more by following the related link below. The original article also includes a chart of the next 5 years growth prediction.