Question 1: Energy: Any conversation on solar energy in SD future?

Russ Olson:

• Population density is a problem; no knowledge of conversations on solar energy
• focus now is on wind, coal for electricity

Scott Parsley:

• East River provides ranchers small solar units for water pumping; easy to maintain
  
• problem is solar is intermittent, just like wind
• Need to work on storage tech
• [Update 2008.10.08 10:40: see video of Scott's response at RealMadison.org]
  

Mitch Fargen:

• SDSU just got Sun Grant couple weeks ago to work on solar technology
• Maybe look at putting solar on state buildings

Patricia Stricherz:

• limited knowledge of solar, but I know it's being used for greenhouses and homes
• tax break for home solar might be good

Jerry Johnson:

• can't answer specifically
• working in transportation industry has brought me into many conversations on worldwide demand for energy
• glaring problem of demand exceeding output for every energy source; must look at opportunities for alternative energy through R&D

Gerry Lange:

• mentions news story on women in India making their own solar cells
• we are neglecting it