PV Gap

Anne Said:

Doesn't building solar panels use more energy then we get back from it?

We Answered:

Here is the energy payback time, in years, of various solar panel technologies. The energy payback time is time required for the panel to make up for the energy it required to be produced.

The range is from 2-8 years:
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/17219

Another study which found a similar range:
http://www.solarbus.org/documents/pvpayb…

Since panels can last 20-25 years, that means they are producing much more energy than it took to create them. And, as we create more, with economies of scale the efficiency will go ever higher and the payback times will become ever lower.

Justin Said:

Should people in prisons pay the country back by manufacturing & building solar panels to be given citizens?

We Answered:

I like the idea of prisoners doing things like picking up trash on the roadside or cleaning up rivers. Perhaps picking fruit (the jobs that undocumented workers do because they don't pay enough for Americans to make a living wage) etc. But Manufacturing jobs should go to people that haven't committed crimes.

In short I'm for using prison labor as long as it's not used to compete with workplace jobs