RE: Timing "GLTA - hopefully the next generation will make solar power economical"
The next generation is already here my friend. Yet another reason to jump off this bandwagon....
https://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/03/thin-film-solar-power-to-be-sold-for-less-than-coal/
"According to a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between El Paso Electric Company and First Solar, electricity will be sold from First Solar’s thin-film solar panels to El Paso Electric Company for 5.8 cents per kWh (a good 4-8 cents cheaper than new coal, which is in the 10-14 cents per kWh range).
.....
If you’re inclined to bring up subsidies, it should be noted that a Harvard Medical School study found that coal costs us an additional 9-27 cents per kWh in health costs. In a perfect world (economically), that would be added onto the LCOE of coal mentioned at the top (the 10-14 cents per kWh figure). That would bring the LCOE to 19-41 cents per kWh. Additionally, coal has received subsidies for about a century that dwarf anything solar has received.
As far as the plant above, the power purchase agreement should be signed by June."