53% of Consumers Would Buck Up for Solar

Electricity consumers think that solar energy should play a greater role in the nation's electricity mix, and by and large they are prepared to pay more for it. Indeed, just 41 percent of those surveyed said they would not pay more for solar energy from their utility provider.

"Summer Solstice," a recent survey from Applied Materials and Ketchum Global Research Network, shows there are some misconceptions about solar. The survey was of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 American adults and 200 adults in each of the following five states: New York, California, Colorado, Texas and Florida.

• One in four Americans believe the U.S. is the world leader in solar. In fact, Germany and Spain have more solar.
• More than half of those surveyed believe residential solar panels are the most efficient way to harvest solar. Research points to solar farms being a better source, according to Applied Materials.

Here's another chart from the survey.