Solar energy is hot again

Central Energy :"Mark Bauer believes the time has come to harness the power of the sun. As head of Bauer Power, he's in a position to do something about that.

The Michigan-based company has been installing solar panels and water heaters as well as wind-generating systems throughout the Midwest the past seven years.

Bauer opened an office in Dunlap last year to take advantage of what he saw as an opportunity. 'I never saw any renewable energy in Illinois when I visited. I want to go to a market where people haven't seen it,' he said."