Now may be the perfect time to install solar paneling at your home, according to a recent USA TODAY report. There's an oversupply of panels coupled with a severe drop in demand.

When people think of solar energy in the United States, they typically think of the Southwest -- California, Nevada and Arizona. But colder states like New Jersey have also been instrumental in the explosion of solar energy in our nation.

There are now newly revised federal tax credits to help defray the costs of installing solar panels at your home. The old cap on that tax credit is now gone. That alone should be a real boon to solar energy adoption.

Clark is exploring the idea of solar panels for his home. He loves the tax incentive, plus the long-term incentive of reducing what he pays to heat hot water.

Finally, some Southwestern solar plants are being used to actually generate electricity. It's not yet clear, however, if they will prove economically viable.