January 27, 2014 /3BL Media/ - The growth of solar power is attracting some unlikely supporters and creating some unusual alliances. Conservatives, Tea Party activists, and free market libertarians are joining with progressives and environmentalists to address economic issues raised by the increasing adoption of solar power.

Twenty-nine major, publicly traded companies have reported their internal prices on carbon pollution to CDP, the environmental data organization. The numbers, which range from $6 to $60 per metric ton, estimate both the risk and the potential business opportunity for proactive action by the companies. Prices were listed from companies in all sectors, including energy, utilities, airlines, technology and the financial industry.

In a first for the solar power industry, Wall Street is dealing with bonds backed by solar electricity payments. SolarCity, a provider of energy services, plans to sell the bonds, secured by its residential and commercial power contracts. The offering will be managed by Credit Suisse and has received an investment-grade classification of BBB+ from Standard and Poor’s. The bonds will have a yield of 4.8 percent, a relatively high rate that rewards investors for buying untested securities, and will be sold initially to select institutional investors.

One of the big questions about solar power is how to supply sun-driven electricity at times of peak demand. Demand spikes in the early morning, before the sun is high enough to hit solar panels, and in the early evening, when solar panels operate at only at half efficiency in the low light. Cost-effective storage has been a major issue to be solved. Electric batteries have been used, but they’re expensive and have a limited lifetime, so they are usually online to even out a plant’s production, not to store large amounts of solar energy overnight.