How clean is solar power?

I cannot read the article as I exceeded my free views. Solar has plenty of reasonable applications based upon the current technology. It is not a solution to our power needs but one cog in the wheel.

A personal example. I have a solar heater on my pool at home. I live in FL and have a perfect set up for it (from a direct sunlight perspective). The solar heater cost about as much as a more traditional electric or gas system (a little less). The benefit was no electric of gas bill. The challenge is that the solar panels leak (as do the piped from time to time). The replacement costs of panes and maintenance are real. Heating my pool is a good application for solar. Heating my water for use in the house, not so much.

There are limitations based upon the technology. I never see us getting to a solar powered passenger jet or the abilty to run a city on it etc. It is clean but limited in practical use. Solar panels are still expensive and need to be replaces having a real impact on the ROI on solar.

Depends on where we are discussing.

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5650