Written by Prognog Staff The conditions this year--including those economic, political, social, cultural and otherwise--have created a situation where the alternative energy industry is perhaps set to break through into the mainstream.  You can't go more than a day without hearing about some new technology set to change our future, or some commercial touting an amazing product or industry that will finally make alternative energy positively viable.

The truth is, though, that a lot of the good news for alternative and renewable energy seems to still be dreams and fantasies.  Ideas and fancy proposals are cheap, but it's not until we see some actual results that we can begin--just barely begin--to celebrate the possibilities of new and emerging technologies.

It's good to hear, then, that two new solar plants, enormous plants, "that will cover 12.5 square miles of central California with solar panels, and in the middle of a sunny day will generate about 800 megawatts of power, roughly equal to the size of a large coal-burning power plant or a small nuclear plant"  are planning to be built soon.  Of course, these too are just plans, and there are a host of things that could derail the construction, but it's a very good sign for solar energy advocates.