Is solar a revolution or solution to pollution?

The news is rather depressing. Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common and climate researchers keep arriving at the same cause for the problem: man continues to burn an alarming amount of fossil fuels. Scientists have been looking for cleaner sources of energy due to the dramatic climate-related weather events dominating the news. Alternative energy is a broad term relating to energy sources that don’t emit noxious gases into the air. Today a number of carbon-neutral sources are being developed and promoted as the chief alternative energy sources of the future. Solar energy is by far the most advanced of these relatively new sources of power and it's a technology that is already generating electricity all over the globe.

Are governments finally getting the message?

Speaking publicly on the importance of alternative energy to the US economy, President Barack Obama made this statement discussing his economic recovery plan:

"To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills. In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced - jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain."

In order to be effective, alternative energy demands a combined effort between government, industry, and consumers.  Because of the scale of the energy issue, and its impact on the economy, government investment, oversight, and planning are essential to an intelligent energy market.  Upgrades to the national electrical grid, known as the Smart Grid, will ensure that large wind farms in the midwest, and solar electric generation projects in the deserts and elsewhere, can distribute their energy to the urban areas where power is most needed.  

Is alternative energy ready to go now?

Switching from one source of energy to "alternative" sources have occurred numerous times over history.  Two transitions, from wood to soft coal, and from whale oil to petroleum, were necessitated by depletion of the main fuel source.  Fundamental economics dictated that as the main fuel source became less plentiful, driving prices higher, alternative sources of energy became more appealing.  Crude oil, our primary source of energy today, has a very limited lifespan and researchers predict only another fifty or sixty years of life for this dangerous and limited energy source. Today alternative energy demand is increasing for many purposes.  Prices of crude oil have fluctuated wildly in the past few years causing gasoline prices to triple to the $5 per gallon mark.  This was a wake-up call for  Americans to think about energy in new ways.  A spirit of nationalism combined with a demand for energy independence has produced interest in local, renewable, alternative energy sources like solar and wind.  Today, energy from the sun and wind holds a small percentage of US energy output.

To do your part, install a solar energy system! Since solar panel prices are still falling, there is no better time than the present to go solar! Rebates and incentives are in place for you to get your best value for your investment dollar.

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

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