In case you needed some additional confirmation that the interest in alternative energy systems is skyrocketing, the New York Times business section has a nifty little piece going over the growth in stock value of the various small and medium-sized producers of photovoltaic gear for the home. For those of us with more of a focus on users than on shareholders, the article includes a graphic showing just how much the installed base has grown from 1996 to 2004. Worldwide solar power generation nearly doubled over the 2003-2004 period, and 2005 looks to be another record year (if silicon shortages don't hold us back, that is).