Yeah, solar can power a lot of things. It really just comes down to how much space you need for the panels. In a place like where i live, we don't need as many panels since we get some of the best sun in the world.
It's a misconception pushed by the fossil fuel industry that solar can't support the electrical needs of the people and is expensive. Yes, storage is an issue but my system supplements my utility thus no need for batteries.

FYI, Germany is the most solarized country in the world(though China is catching up fast if they have not already passed them) and Germany has the same sun resources as Alaska. Also remember that we get enough energy from the sun in one day on this planet to run everything for 7 years. If we could only learn to get 10-25% of that, this planet would have no energy issues and no need for carbon based fuels. I included a solar resource map to give you an idea of what solar energy looks like around the world.