Energy and Global Warming News for July 15: Will 'solar trees' sprout in parking lots? Obama to promote electric vehicles — not climate action — in Michigan

Will 'Solar Trees' Sprout in Parking Lots?

Part of the fine print in solar power systems is that whatever wattage number is quoted, it is usually "peak watts,'' or the amount of electricity that the panel would deliver when the sun is directly overhead. For the rest of the daylight hours, the output is lower; a graph showing minute-by-minute production resembles a sharp mountain peak.

One way to do better is to mount the panel on a metal backbone and let it tilt over the course of the day...