Ways Solar Energy is Revolutionizing Remote Communities

Reverbtime Magazine

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Solar power is a game changer for how people live, work, and play. Without the reliance on an established electric network, people have more options to live how and where they want. As energy regulations tighten and energy prices rise, solar energy can unlock untapped potential in remote communities. Learn more about the opportunities that solar energy can bring to communities across the country.

 

1. Economic Growth

A key indicator of a community’s health is its economic growth potential. Government leaders often pursue businesses to invest in their communities, offering tax incentives and bonds to commit. However, it’s not common for big opportunities to come to remote communities without major concessions. Former hotbeds for manufacturing now sit empty, their productions moved overseas and their workforce at a standstill.

Community leaders can leverage solar leasing opportunities to attract business investments to shovel-ready sites and reuse properties. By diversifying the power source for these properties, monthly energy costs can be predictable. Plus, the initial investment can provide tax incentives that can be layered across local, state, and federal initiatives. The agriculture industry can benefit from solar power as a way to support irrigation systems, monitoring applications, and livestock cooling.

New residents can be recruited to relocate to remote communities by elevating the benefits of leasing solar panels. Include power diversification in campaigns to encourage people to expand their home search outside busy city centers. With more people working remotely or willing to commute for their hybrid schedule, the pool of potential residents increases. This strategy can also strengthen community makeups by attracting people from different backgrounds and life experiences.

 

2. Energy Independence

Reliance on the grid for energy puts limits on how you live your life. First, where you choose to live is largely dictated by whether you can access basic utilities to run your home. People preferring a more natural setting have had options for water and waste service for years, but power has been limited. Propane tanks bridge the gap for electric power, but they can’t solve every need. Propane can also be expensive.

Solar power reduces the reliance on utility service and, if you have the right system, it can be the sole source. Solar panels attached to your home, business, or on a standalone structure capture solar energy year-round. Many people pair solar with grid-based electric service, especially in areas where every day may not be sunny. In these cases, utilities often provide discounts or credits to homeowners as your solar power reduces the demand on their system.

Homeowners can also enter a net metering agreement with their utility provider, selling their excess solar power to the utility. Utility regulators require them to generate a percentage of their power from renewables, and net metering helps them comply. In many cases, the income earned from net metering can reduce the balance owed on utility-provided electricity service.

 

3. Increased Quality of Life

Coal-fired power plants have been a part of many communities’ skylines for generations. Puffs of black smoke, ash ponds, and pungent odors may be synonymous with productivity, but they take away natural beauty. While regulations have improved how coal-fired plants are run, many are being decommissioned or converted to produce less emissions. Utilities are installing solar panels on old industrial sites, in unused highway properties, and on flat-roofed buildings. Change is already underway to reduce fossil fuel reliance and transform communities into cleaner, happier places to live.

With a high presence of solar energy, skylines are preserved and underutilized properties now have purpose. Wind power generation sparks lively debate in rural communities, due to its unsightly appearance and tradeoffs. However, solar power is among the most practical for communities to utilize, especially in residential applications.

Communities can leverage solar energy in public spaces where traditional power may be cost-prohibitive to install. Solar power can also reduce maintenance costs for remote applications or hard-to-access alleyways. In all, communities have more options and customization available with solar energy at their disposal. Communities can invest in streetscapes, beautification projects, and safety lighting knowing that their power source is reliable, renewable, and cost-effective.

 

4. Job Creation

The job market has changed dramatically over the past few generations and today, many students are questioning traditional paths. The solar energy industry presents a new market for individuals to gain expertise in and grow their careers. As a new category that’s also growing, solar power generation and the businesses that support it expand opportunities and jobs.

Skilled tradespeople and laborers are needed to run machines that create solar panels and fixtures. Scientists, technologists, and researchers are needed to create more efficient systems and applications. Sales, marketing, and business people are needed to share the opportunity that solar provides and deliver great customer service. Beyond the positive impact on communities, the solar energy industry offers new opportunities for individuals to build thriving careers.

 

Solar Power Increases Opportunities for All

Equitable access to power gives people more choices and empowers communities to reach their potential. Businesses can grow, families can thrive, and communities can flourish with access to cost-effective, reliable solar power. Enter a new era of possibility, powered by the sun, and improve the lives of everyone in your community. 

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