Solar energy advocates are worried that Reagan won't let the sunshine in

The slow growth of the solar-energy industry has solar advocates worried that the Reagan Administration will favor conventional fuels and allow the budding industry to fail in the marketplace without reaching the 20% goal set by President Carter for solar's share of the energy mix. Their concern is deepened by the problem that solar-energy applications are still too expensive for residential commercialization. Solar-water heating is now economic even though incentives in the form of energy tax credits are counteracted by high interest rates. Some solar advocates are looking to photovoltaic cells, biomass, and wind systems to replace flat solar collectors as a direction for emphasis. The solar industry seeks the same government subsidies granted conventional fuels in order to become competitive. The Solar Lobby's efforts to promote solar energy have sometimes overlapped those of solar businesses. (DCK)