Solar advances and global warming

We no longer have to inquire why the world is jumping on the solar bandwagon. The obvious motivation for the solar revolution is the climate-related weather patterns that have become more commonplace as time goes on. Droughts, floods, and destructive wildfires have become the norm throughout the world and they are getting progressively worse. But perhaps just as important to some, are the financial advantages of solar power. Renewable energy sources, like solar panels, are one of the most effective ways to positively impact the environment and your pocketbook. For more than a century now, coal and natural gas-fired power plants have polluted the air around them. Coal ash and fracking have polluted groundwater, and coal mining has destroyed mountains. Solar is already beginning to change this toxic legacy, but project developers must be careful to avoid any negative impacts on the land. Solar energy eases this enigma significantly. In fact, once they’re installed, solar panels are entirely neutral to their neighboring environment. Many solar panel manufacturers use specialized processes to recycle excess manufacturing materials to make sure that they never leave the factory, and some even include a recycling plan in the purchase of their panels.

Solar gardens gathering steam (literally?)

 A community solar garden in Dover, MA was built on the top of a capped landfill. A tract of cleared forest can take many years to regain the social and economic value of lost biodiversity. Similarly, some farmers put great care into maintaining the health of their soil in order to bring you healthy and cost-competitive food. This same principle is why the solar industry must do its part to preserve rural land and contribute to the communities where these projects are located.

Experts suggest that solar farms and gardens should be built where you can’t build anything else. On capped landfills and Superfund sites, concerns about contamination make it illegal to use the land for other purposes. Where possible, these locations are optimal for solar gardens.

Brownfields are sites that have previously been developed for human use and are considered ideal for solar farms. It doesn’t make environmental sense to destroy ecosystems and eliminate trees to build solar farms, so they should always be created on brownfields. Fortunately, states like Massachusetts have developed policies that give community solar projects extra compensation to build on brownfields and capped landfills.

Environmental benefits of solar

Solar is by far the most efficient renewable energy source and technological advances ensure that more efficient applications for solar are coming soon. Leaving land fallow is a great way to restore soil health. This means that solar plants can have a positive impact on soil health, and this restorative effect of solar facilities can be enhanced by putting in soil-restorative plants around the bases of the solar panels, and by allowing animals to graze around the periphery.

The future of solar energy is now. Technological advances ensure that solar power in the future will be the best form of alternative energy form. Wind power has the disadvantage of windmill blades harming birds that inadvertently fly into them. Solar is friendly to man and beast and causes no global warming emissions. With solar, you can have your cake and eat it too. Due to the financial incentives in solar energy, the financial advantages of a solar system make it a "no-brainer." There has never been a better time to install a solar power system!

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. Our solar blog has many useful articles. Check them out!

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