The Carolinas are home to sunny skies, making them an ideal location for harnessing the power of the sun. In recent years, the use of solar energy has been on the rise in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Here are some of the benefits of solar power in the Carolinas, supported by statistics.
- Clean Energy: Solar power is a clean and renewable energy source that does not produce any emissions or pollutants. In the Carolinas, the use of solar energy reduces the dependence on fossil fuels, which are a major contributor to air pollution.
- Cost Savings¹: Installing a solar power system can significantly reduce electricity costs for homeowners and businesses. According to EnergySage, the average cost of solar panels in North Carolina is $3.14 per watt, which can result in savings of thousands of dollars over the life of the system.
- Job Creation²: The solar industry is a major employer in the Carolinas, creating thousands of jobs in installation, maintenance, and management. In 2020, North Carolina ranked 8th in the nation for solar jobs, with over 8,000 workers in the industry.
- Increased Property Value³: Homes and buildings with solar power systems have been shown to have a higher resale value. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that homes with solar panels sold for an average of 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar.
- Supports the Grid: Solar power not only reduces energy costs, but it also supports the grid by reducing the demand for energy from traditional power plants during peak hours. This helps to prevent blackouts and brownouts during hot summer months, which are a common problem in the Carolinas.
- State and Federal Incentives⁴: Both North Carolina and South Carolina offer a range of incentives to encourage the adoption of solar power, including tax credits, rebates, and grants. The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) also provides a credit for 26% of the cost of a solar power system for homeowners and businesses.
Solar power in the Carolinas offers a range of benefits to homeowners, businesses, and the community as a whole. The sunny skies, cost savings, job creation, increased property value, support for the grid, and state and federal incentives make it an attractive option for those looking to transition to clean and renewable energy.
Clean Energy: The information on solar power being a clean and renewable energy source that does not produce emissions or pollutants is a widely known fact.
¹https://www.energysage.com/
²Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) (https://www.seia.org/
³The study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory https://www.nrel.gov/docs/
⁴Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) (https://www.dsireusa.org/).