Friday, September 25, 2009 at 4:28:47 PM - by Danny Vo

The rising potential of solar energy has captured the attention of influential members of Congress, with hearing on the topic held earlier in the week on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Ed Markey chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and is also the co-author of a climate change bill that has already passed the House and which would enact a cap and trade system, among other initiatives.

Markey's hearing was entitled "Solar Heats Up: Accelerating Widespread Deployment" and came at a time where he noted that costs are falling rapidly for consumers at the same time sales are growing by as much as 40 percent.

The hearing was attended by a handful of key corporate and environmental leaders, including Dr. Stephanie Burns, CEO of Dow Corning and Nada Culver of The Wilderness Society.

Burns also met with President Obama at the White House earlier this summer to discuss solar energy, and her company is also among those that have provided Congress with a Four Point Policy Plan on how to further develop such resources.