As November’s general election creates numerous possibilities for policy change both in San Diego and across the country, a group of executives from companies and groups involved in the expansion of solar energy systems discussed the state of their economies at a Daily Transcript roundtable.

In the aftermath of the summer bankruptcy of the government-backed California solar panel maker Solyndra, expectations among renewable energy wonks, who describe the company’s failure as an outlier among many successes, remain generally high. But some policy research analysts are more skeptical — not doubtful, but still skeptical.

Working in the energy business was never a goal for Lee Krevat, now the director of smart grid and clean transportation for San Diego Gas & Electric, and in fact was the result of a begrudgingly made career switch from Silicon Valley at the behest of his family.

When entering San Diego's business community about 30 years ago, Clint Walker’s aim had nothing to do with being in the solar business. His success as the co-founder and president of Southwestern Solar Systems since his entrance to the business in 2009 came about in much the same fashion his other major endeavors have.

When Cecilia Aguillon, director of marketing and government relations for Kyocera Solar Inc., immigrated to the United States from El Salvador as a teen, she grew into a young adult with a lofty goal in mind: to save the world.

Some people look at buildings and see a combination of wood, steel and mortar with a number of things inside to make them more comfortable and workable — lighting, computers and maybe a few windows, even if they can't be opened.

Reducing emissions and energy costs while helping the environment is the goal that drew Doug Poffinbarger to energy consulting.

Miramar-based Waxie Sanitary Supply, one of the nation's best-known producers and distributors of bathroom and kitchen paper and cleaning products, has gone green.