>We have a problem here in that solar panels don't survive hurricanes very well :(

Do they fly away or get hit by flying stuff?

It's been a couple of years ago since I saw that guy on Iceland produce flexible solar panels, something you can bend or even perforate at will - looked like a perfect shingle. He said his solar sheets were less efficient in full light, but continued to operate quite well with less light, when regular panels would just raise their... cells in desperation.

>Other than that, they really should be everywhere because I'm sure they can come up with some type of metal shutter protection for them during storms. Costly true, but over time the cost would go down and they would help provide us with energy independence and could allow us to start getting rid of the polution causing plants...

Like beans?