Getting electricity from the sun has always been expensive. But many communities have made investments in solar electricity figuring the costs could be recouped. Now, as reported by the Institute for Energy Research, it appears widespread malfunctions in solar panels are rampant and costing communities lots of taxpayer money to replace. In California, a solar plant built to last 25 years has already been forced to close after just two years for major repairs. In Europe, a recent survey found 80% of some 30,000 solar panels it reviewed were under-performing and defective. And in Spain, over a whopping one-third of the solar panels used at its two main utilities were malfunctioning, costing rate payers millions to replace.