Here you go, BB:

It takes power to make power—even with a solar grand plan. From the mining of quartz sand to the coating with ethylene-vinyl acetate, manufacturing a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell requires energy—most often derived from the burning of fossil fuels. But a new analysis finds that even accounting for all the energy and waste involved, PV power would cut air pollution—including the greenhouse gases that cause climate change—by nearly 90 percent if it replaced fossil fuels.

Check it out for yourself.   Scientific American.

Heavy metals? What heavy metals?

And pdq:   How about the REST of the story?   Forbes.

Don Firth

P. S.   By the way, pdq, it can't be that difficult. I just checked to find out what it would cost to have the building I live in fitted with solar panels, and found that if we were to buy the panels commercially, they would run about $200 each. But, I was informed, with a bit of ingenuity, one can get the materials and make one's own panels for about $90 each.

I'm going to mention it at the next board meeting.