Obama is trying to make solar panels cheaper and more efficient

Earlier this month President Obama launched an ambitious plan to move states away from coal plants and towards more renewable energy generation. Now he’s focusing on the consumer side with a suite of initiatives to help Americans collect energy at home, encourage manufacturers to make more efficient appliances, and—perhaps most critically—boost research to find new energy technologies. Among the announcements made at today’s National Clean Energy Summit are incentives to help homeowners borrow money for energy upgrades and a better way for manufactuers to measure energy efficiency. But Obama’s also giving solar science some cash: $24 million will go to 11 research projects that are working to make the technology cheaper and more efficient. This is a huge deal. Although the plan nods at other energy sources, solar is the key part of Obama’s energy vision—he’s already launched a solar program for low-income neighborhoods.