>There are many house in Colorado run using solar energy. My mother's building is one of them. The problem is that in many states there is not sufficient sun to provide enough power to make it cost effective. Here in NC is a great example. Solar energy could provide approximately 10% of the required energy but at 120% of the cost! When it is cheaper than oil it may be a viable alternative. Yet what to do about those other 18 hours in the day when the energy is used up? :o)

Don't know if you've seen this: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1506/resources/transcript.htm

...scroll down to "sunshine hydrogen" part, if you don't have the time to read it all. I've seen what this guy is making, and it's about five times better, IMO, than the commercial solar panels currently available.