Solar helps our environment

The latest climate reports are nothing short of staggering. Previous projections were terribly optimistic and we are experiencing some of the impacts of burning fossil fuels. News reports of climate-related deaths all over the globe are getting attention. The momentum to do something to mitigate the root problem is creating a new environmental movement. There is little choice at this stage because scientists warn us that things could get really ugly if we don't wake up to the truth very soon. The pollution is making the move to solar power a worldwide necessity. Without question, changing to cleaner sources of energy is the number one way to protect our environment today. It is crucial that we take steps now to reduce our use of fossil fuels. This transition must be executed quickly to address the long-term impacts of climate change and to protect our waterways, air quality, and public health.

Solar power is available now

Solar energy is ready now as a clean, safe energy choice for the entire planet. Solar power comes in a diversity of technologies, with reliable options for everything from powering a laptop to heating your shower to generating electricity on solar farms. One of the quickest ways to add more solar to our energy mix is to build utility-scale solar power plants. For a number of reasons, solar power plants make sense. The United States has the best solar resources in the world, especially in the arid Southwest. From California to Louisiana, there are millions of acres of land that are excellent for generating large amounts of clean, renewable solar electricity.

The future of utility-scale solar is bright

Proposed projects in development could provide "juice" for 4.6 million homes. Thankfully, the solar industry is committed to solving environmental problems, not creating them. Developers strive to reduce any impacts that utility-scale solar power plants may have on the land and habitat. Every solar plan undergoes strict environmental impact reviews by local, state, and federal agencies before it is approved. In addition, these projects are subject to scrutiny by the public and other stakeholders. Regulations demand that solar companies conduct environmental studies, provide detailed project construction designs, and propose mitigation strategies to offset any impact produced by their facility.

Large-scale solar makes us greener

Utility-scale solar power plants are only part of the solution to reducing the air pollution that is causing global warming. Distributed-generation solar will play a vital role in creating more clean energy, too. Additionally, home and business owners produce their own electricity with photovoltaic panels so they can reduce the number of fossil fuels they use to heat water and to heat and cool their buildings with solar thermal technology. It’s all part of the diverse energy sources we need. While distributed generation solar is vitally important, deploying utility-scale solar power plants can substantially increase our clean energy portfolio.

Americans are becoming more educated about clean energy, but the American government has sold out to fossil fuel interests, which makes it hard for them to recognize the scientific facts about climate change. Americans recognize that developing utility-scale solar power should be a priority. In fact, a recent independent poll found that three out of four Americans approve the development of solar power plants on public lands. Today there are no utility-scale solar power plants generating electricity on public lands. But in the last twenty years, 74,000 permits have been granted for oil and gas drilling on public lands. The United States now gets electricity from aging coal and nuclear plants that are due for decommissioning in the next few decades. We need to get our energy from somewhere, and solar energy is a dramatically cleaner, safer option than fossil fuels. The solar energy industry is ready to power America.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system. See our solar blog for more!

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