With the price increase and short supply of the raw materials used to create solar panels, the Physical Plant Management has decided to hold off on any further plans to install more solar panels on campus said Tom Brown, director of the physical plant management.

The current panels were installed in Fall 2003, which saves the university about $150,000 a year on energy costs Brown said.

“Out of the savings, we put back into the university maintenance funds,” Brown said.

Larry Caretto, mechanical engineering professor, said the panels also double as shade for the cars that park under them.

“Especially in the summer. They help to keep your car cool,” Caretto said.

Brown said the panels are also environmentally friendly.

The environmental aspects of solar energy are the reason nuclear plants are being replaced by solar power, said President of SC Solar, Dan Whigham.

“With solar panels, you reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released,” Whigham said.

He said industries around the world are switching to solar has caused high demand for the elements needed to create panels. The high demand has caused shortages in the supply of silicon, an element essential for the production of solar panels.

“This product is only mined by four companies in the world, making it hard to get,” Whigham said.

Brown said one of the mining sites is located in Washington.

With such short supply, companies have been forced to increase the amount they sell the product for, Whigham said.

“There were seven price increases last year and one this year, with Sharp selling its product at $4.25 per watt and Shell Solar selling its product at $5 per watt,” Whigham said.

CSUN has formally purchased from both of these companies, which buy and process the raw material, Brown said.

“Before it was around $2.10 per watt,” he said.

Whigham said he hopes there will eventually be a price decrease because it is affecting business.

“With the price increase, the number of installations has decreased,” he said.