“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
I’m visiting my home town in the Boston suburbs this week, which has jogged lots of memories. Fun fact about my high school: we had solar power. This isn’t unusual today, but was trailblazing at the time. In the early 80’s, my high school was one of 8 sites around the US chosen for solar research. Then progress with photovoltaics stalled – for a long time.
Imagining the possibilities
I can’t help but wonder – what if we had invested as much 40 years ago in clean energy development as in oil and gas? Imagine a world where…
- every school was powered by solar
- parking lots and business were covered with solar panels
- homes all had solar roofs and electric appliances
- we drove solar cars
Just think how little we would depend on oil and gas, and what that would mean for our climate and environment. Unfortunately, that is not today’s reality.
If we want a better future – one with a livable climate for generations – we have to start by envisioning what is possible. Then we have to start making it happen.
The push we need
The good news is, solar technology has been on fire in recent years, and costs have plummeted. It is now the cheapest form of energy. And I think we can all agree there is no shortage of sunshine these days.
Market forces are nudging us toward clean energy, just not quite fast enough. Now the Inflation Reduction Act is giving a little extra push. Tax credits can help organizations, businesses, and individuals fund the transition to renewables.
Making the vision a reality
School are perfect for photovoltaics. Districts around the country are cash-strapped, so more and more are choosing solar because of the cost savings. The climate benefits are a bonus. Currently, 8400 schools in the US, or 1 in 10 are powered by sun. Not bad, but we can up our game.
Last year, I wrote about a school district in Arkansas that went from a $250k budget deficit to a $1.8 million surplus. Another recent story involves a Pennsylvania school district that built a PV array over a nearby landfill and is banking big savings. Larger school systems have even more to gain.
What can we do?
- If you have influence at a school (or organization, or business), suggest a solar consultation. An organization called Generation 180 offers some excellent resources for schools or individuals considering solar.
- Take a look at home solar – This cool site partners with Google and lets you enter your address to see your solar potential. It even tells you how much money you could save. There are a lot of factors to consider about home solar, but getting an estimate is free.
We can’t go back to the 80s for a do-over on solar, but we can get on board now. It’s not too late. That imaginary future is ours to build.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.