[ QUOTE ]
The new wave in solar technology: Nanosolar. Some pretty heavy hitters are backing this:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bo...n/item_59.html
[/ QUOTE ]
One way or another solar will become much cheaper in the near future. Even without new technology this will happen because there is a lot of investment going into increasing silicon production and prices are currently somewhat high because of a spike in demand largely from Germany.
There is also plenty of room for some new technology or manufacturing method like the link above to drop prices to a small fraction of what they currently are.
As coolio and others mentioned there are issues about storing energy and a mix of solutions is required, but in some areas with good solar resources and nearby mountains/hills solar in combination with pumped-storage hydroelectric power could supply a very large portion of power.
I think conservation pretty much goes without saying here a well. I just want to mention that if you think compact fluorescents suck you might try again or try not getting the cheapest bulbs available. As far as light quality and the time it takes to get to full brightness there is a HUGE difference between older or cheaper bulbs and newer better bulbs (not that expensive, like $4 or $5).
In the not too distant future LED lights might be providing a lot more of the light and use a lot less power.