Big Changes in the PV world?

It was recently reported in an American alternative technology journal that the Japanese government has decided to wholeheartedly support photovoltaics and now offers 50% subsidies. Japan expects to buy an amount of photovoltaic material in 1997 equal to the entire world's production during 1996. They're also projecting to multiply this figure times 5 for 1998. In the long term, this should mean lower prices but in the short term (until manufacturers build up their capacity) we may see price increases and limited availability.