Solar energy, an intriguing novelty 15 years ago, has become a substantial global industry, exceeding expectations of even the most optimistic experts. How did this happen? And why did it take so long?

La Follette School Professor Greg Nemet offers a comprehensive assessment of solar energy’s rapid adoption and falling costs in his first book, How Solar Energy Became Cheap: A Model for Low-Carbon Innovation, published June 10 by Routledge.