A primary concern about solar power always existed in the manufacturing. Even if solar panels can produce clean power, do we burn enough in fossil fuels in their manufacturing (via both materials and energy) that over their lifecycle, they are worse than coal?
For a long time, the answer to this question was ambiguous. But recently, a new study has come out that assures us that solar panels are definitively cleaner than carbon sources over the lifetime of their use.
To top it off, many solar panel manufacturers are starting to close the renewables loop and power the production of their facilities with....you guessed it....solar power. They call this a "breeder" cycle.
So investigate your upcoming solar project with confidence!
You can read more at:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=solar-cells-prove-cleaner-way-to-produce-power&sc=atbr 
