Arizona is known as the solar industry’s pioneer state and with good reason. Considering that the sun shines 85% of the year, Arizona and solar are like two peas in a pod. It’s no wonder, then, that the state is one of the top in the country in solar energy generation.
Solar use in Arizona goes back a long way. The history is colorful and surrounded by influential people and technology that made solar power the clean, efficient energy generator that it is today.
Now, innovations in solar technology have allowed regular homeowners in Arizona and around the globe access to this money-saving, carbon footprint reducing way to produce power in their homes. This economic change has catapulted solar energy to the highest levels it has ever been worldwide.
For residents of Arizona, it has major implications, too.
A Quick Timeline of Solar Power
Solar power has been harnessed for millennia when people used the strategic placement of openings in their homes to keep them warm, light up the interior, and even cook or start fires. We’ve come a long way since then, but the idea is the same – we want to use solar energy to completely power our homes.
In the 1800s, solar technology began being developed. In 1839 the idea that voltage can be created when a material is exposed to light, or the photovoltaic effect, was discovered. This laid the foundation for the first solar cell, at 1% efficiency, to be created. Fast forward to the 1950s and that little, inefficient solar cell was the catalyst for the birth of photovoltaics by David Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson of Bell Labs. They were able to create a machine that was 4% efficient and later increased the efficiency to 11%.
Because of the inefficiency in these solar cells and the expense that was required to create them, the idea of solar power was intriguing, but the process of rolling it out for public use was not feasible. However, wealthy businesses and homeowners were purchasing solar systems for use, allowing developers and researchers to continue to study this clean energy resource and tweak it for continued improvements.
By 2015, Australia, who had much earlier let the world know that they were going to be a world leader in solar power, had improved the technology to the point that it was now cheaper to use solar energy than fossil fuels. Solar technology was now commonly found in airplanes, luxury vehicles, homes, and businesses, and the effect began to spread across the globe.
Solar Power’s Influence Rushes into Arizona
The government of Arizona quickly took notice. If Australia could harness the power of solar energy on such magnitude, why couldn’t they? The mountains of Arizona are a naturally absorbent material of the sun, and there is a constant supply of this renewable resource, so why not figure out how to make the best of it?
This journey became more economically viable back in 2006 when the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff was enacted. This piece of legislation regulated utility companies and required them to utilize renewable sources to generate a minimum of 15% of their power by 2025. They also had to generate at least 30% of their power from renewable distributed sources such as solar panels. The race was on to find ways to make this happen, and it quickly became apparent that without the help of the millions of Arizona residents, it wouldn’t be possible.
For this reason, utility companies began coming up with rebates and other incentives to offer homeowners and businesses as a carrot to switch to solar power. Between these financial offerings and the impressive state and federal tax credits, solar energy use in Arizona skyrocketed, sending it to its current spot now as the top third state in the nation for solar power generation.
In fact, Arizona currently has over 3,300 megawatts of solar capability in use. This may not sound like much, but it’s enough to power over 500,000 homes just by using the sun’s rays that come every day without any side effects or labor to make it happen. And Arizona is ready to increase that solar capability annually.
With the price of solar almost 55% cheaper than it was five years ago, the state is going to need that extra capacity to account for all of the new installations on the agenda and the rest to come as more people learn about the incredible benefits of turning to solar energy for their homes and businesses.
The solar industry has boomed, creating over 7,000 jobs just in Arizona alone – the 7th highest in the nation, and still climbing. A recent clean energy overhaul proposal by Arizona Corporation Commission member Andrew Tobin, if passed, would lead the state to surpass all others in renewable energy and grid modernization. This proposal takes the old 25% target and increases it to 80% by 2050.
With some of the top sunniest cities in the country right in Arizona, like Yuma, Phoenix, and Tucson, this figure is not even intimidating. Arizona could easily generate enough energy to power millions of homes, more than double its current usage.
The Effects are More Than Financial
Solar power absolutely puts money in your pocket, and with all of the incentives, rebates, tax credits, and other financial perks that come with installing a solar system, it becomes the smartest investment you can make in terms of renovating your home. But there are benefits far beyond your wallet that lead many people to choose to make the switch to solar.
- Solar energy is renewable and abundant. Instead of drilling for fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, the use of solar energy requires no work once the initial equipment is installed. Because of the ease of using it, solar power is much less expensive. There are no harmful impacts on the environment, and there’s no danger of it running out.
In fact, there’s so much solar energy available that one hour of all of the sun’s rays would be enough to provide everyone in the world with enough power to last them over a year. And unlike other clean energy fuels like wind, solar power is consistent and predictable.
- Solar energy reduces the dependence on fossil fuels for power. Electricity generated by fossil fuels creates a massive abundance of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide. These gases are produced during the burning process of turning fossil fuels into energy. Concerns of increasing temperatures across the globe and climate change have been attributed to the build-up of these gases.
Every home that goes solar reduces the demand for fossil fuels – a non-renewable resource that is disappearing quickly – and, at the same time, diminishes greenhouse gas emissions. You can shrink your carbon footprint while you save money. In fact, statistics show that the average American home can save approximately 150 trees each year simply by moving to solar (not to mention the significant reduction on your energy bill)!
- Using solar energy can improve your health. No, we are not just talking about the decreased stress level you’ll feel knowing you don’t have to pay those hefty utility bills every month. Your physical health can improve, too.
Solar energy emits a miniscule amount of pollutants into the air. By adopting solar power on a widespread level, like the one that is already in effect in Las Vegas, Nevada, the reduction in dangerous gases and pollutants could significantly reduce the amount of chronic health problems Americans currently suffer from.
These pollutants are known to cause respiratory and cardiovascular health conditions such as chronic bronchitis. The implications of these illnesses go beyond the physical, too. Costs for treating these conditions can run into millions of dollars each year and the individuals suffering from them can lose thousands of dollars annually in missed work or lose their jobs completely if they become permanently disabled from their condition.
By turning to solar power, you are reducing your carbon footprint, saving money, and helping to improve the overall health of the world for generations to come.
Unlike many other benefits to the environment, solar power does not come at a great financial expense. With this type of clean energy, you get all of the benefits of helping the environment at the same time as you reap all of the financial perks that come with having a solar system installed in Arizona.
Keep Up with the Changing Times
While modern society has always been dependent on fossil-fueled power, the times they are a-changing. Fossil fuel is becoming an increasingly expensive and inefficient use of resources. With the buildup of greenhouse gases destroying our environment and the abundance of clean energy sources, it simply makes no sense any longer to keep using this outdated form of electricity in our homes.
Residents of Arizona are blessed with living in a state where solar energy is abundant. It’s only logical, then, to utilize this resource to its optimal extent. You can join in with the millions of others who know that harnessing the power of solar energy is the way of the future by calling the experts at Nationwide Solar Pros.
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