Two things will bring this about, the ever growing efficiencies of the panels and the economies of scale, these companies are going to be buying a crap load of these things.
The energy cost of a panel isn't a concern if the power comes from a renewable. Cannot speak to the damage to the environment mining and production does but I would be surprised if it surpassed coal's damage.
The energy cost of a panel isn't a concern if the power comes from a renewable. Cannot speak to the damage to the environment mining and production does but I would be surprised if it surpassed coal's damage.