Environmental benefits of solar

Concerns about global warming are growing constantly. This summer, we have already seen many dramatic climate-related weather issues that are very troubling. Whether it is stifling heat in northern hemisphere countries or floods, hurricanes and drought in the southern hemisphere, the earth is taking a severe beating from pollution. Without a doubt, moving to cleaner sources of energy is the most effective way to protect our environment today. We need to take dramatic steps now to reduce our use of polluting fossil fuels and we need to do it quickly to address both the long-term consequences of climate change and to protect our waterways, air quality, and public health. Solar power is ready now as a clean, safe energy option not only for our country but for the entire world. Solar power comes in an increasing variety of technologies, with reliable options for everything from powering a laptop to heating your shower to generating electricity on solar farms. One of the most effective ways to add more solar to our energy grid is to build utility-scale solar power plants.

Solar power plants on the rise

Solar power plants make sense for a number of reasons. The United States has some of the best solar resources in the world, especially in the hot and dry deserts in the Southwest. From sun-saturated California to Texas, there are millions of acres of sun-drenched land that are ideal for generating large quantities of clean, solar electricity. Because the solar sector is committed to solving environmental problems, not creating them, developers work to reduce any impacts that utility-scale solar power plants may have on the habitat. Each solar project undergoes strict environmental impact reviews by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies before it is approved. In addition, these projects are subject to analysis by the public and other stakeholders. Solar companies are required to conduct environmental studies, provide detailed project construction plans, and propose mitigation strategies to address any impact created by their facility.

Solar developers

With experience, solar developers have successfully implemented procedures to minimize their impact. At Kramer Junction, California, the developers built special fencing and hired a dedicated Tortoise Patrol Officer to keep endangered tortoises away from the plant’s access road. They also protected local plant life by replanting cacti and other sensitive flora. Solar companies have also worked to minimize the amount of water their power plants need. While all forms of electricity generation require water, many solar power plants are employing dry cooling technologies to reduce their water needs by as much as 95 percent. In addition, water use must be put into context: Independent studies by the US Geological Survey and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory show that solar facilities use about a quarter of the water per acre that agriculture uses.

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. 

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.