Last week saw a number of important things happen in the solar industry. The effects of some still need to be figured out, among them how will the preliminary findings of Commerce Department impact the solar industry throughout the U.S. and abroad. Meanwhile at the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF) an international panel of renewable energy experts discussed the issues facing the solar industry across the world.

The Commerce Department made its second preliminary ruling in the trade case against Chinese silicon photovoltaic manufacturers last Thursday. In the ruling the department decided to impose stiff preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-made photovoltaic cells and modules. The tariffs of 31.14 percent for Trina, 31.22 percent for Suntech, 31.18 percent for others and a much, higher 249.96 are on top of previously announced countervailing duties. The decision was hailed by the Coaliation for American Solar Manufacturing but the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) opposed the sanctions.

One possible impact of the decision, though preliminary, is that solar stock prices will remain low. At least that’s a scenario described by Ardour Capital Investments Vice President of Equity Research Adam Krop. Last week he said solar stocks are likely to remain at historic lows into 2013 and that more companies will fail as they vie for marketshare in the overheated environment.

Despite the rough times for the industry, the U.S.‘s leading energy official, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu forecast a relatively sunny future for solar while talking at the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF) in Denver last week. During remarks, he observed that the cost drops in solar are bringing it closer to competing with natural gas, and within the next few years, it could be as cheap, if not cheaper. However, speaking a day before the Commerce Department’s decision, he cited the importance of retaining solar manufacturing jobs in the U.S. losing ground in terms of manufacturing, saying Congressional action is needed.

The Administration isn’t turning it’s back on renewables either, at the conference, Dorothy Robyn, the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) deputy undersecretary of defense for Installations and Environment, stated that the U.S. military is on track to install 3 gigawatts of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by 2025. Each the Navy, Army and Air Force have committed to installing 1 gigawatt by the middle of next decade.

The Department of the Interior isn’t shying away from solar either. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was on hand to celebrate the commissioning of the 50 megawatt Silver State North Photovoltaic Project in Nevada’s Ivanpah Valley. It’s the first PV project completed on Bureau of Land Management run land.

Pheonix, Ariz., is taking advantage of sun-drenched lands. Last week the National Bank of Arizona and the city of Phoenix launched the Solar Phoenix 2 project. Under the project, the city aims to support the installation of 1,000 residential solar arrays in the city through bank-supported leases.

In a move that many in the Capitol region will likely appreciate, SolarCity and Clean Currents have worked with local utilities in Maryland and Washington, D.C., to simplify customers’ utility and PV bills (for customers with a power-purchase agreement with Clean Currents) by putting it all together in one bill. The companies said the simplified billing is a first for the industry. Hopefully the idea will catch on.