Five facts on why your community wins with solar energy – Appalachian Voices

Misinformation and targeted anti-solar campaigns — often funded by groups tied to fossil fuel industry interests that benefit from keeping us dependent on dirty energy — aim to prevent our communities from advancing projects that help make us more self-reliant and better stewards of our land while saving money.
Building solar energy infrastructure is critical in reducing pollution that causes climate change, because most of our pollution comes from burning coal and methane gas for electricity. Cleaner air also means healthier communities. A recent study found that in 2022, solar and wind power generation reduced pollution enough to prevent 1,200-1,600 premature deaths in the United States.
It’s going to take all of us to get our communities on board with the benefits of solar. We’ve put together five facts about solar that can help you answer common questions and push back against misinformation when solar projects are discussed in your community.
Solar opponents love to say, “Well, the sun doesn’t always shine, and if the sun isn’t out, how are those solar panels going to work?” The answer is simple: battery storage. With solar battery storage, you have your own rechargeable battery that can power your home at any time, so you can power your home when the sun isn’t shining or when the power is out. Large batteries connected to the electric grid do the same thing, storing electricity when it’s plentiful and releasing it when demand is high or other power sources aren’t available.
In fact, energy storage has played an important role in bolstering the power grid on the hottest and coldest days, helping to keep HVAC systems cranking at night when solar generation stops. Energy storage comes in many forms — most commonly as batteries that can store anywhere from 1 to 8 hours worth of energy, which can help to bridge the gap in solar generation between when the sun sets and rises. Battery storage capacity has increased tenfold over the last three years, providing more stability and reliability to grids during peak hours.
Today, solar is one of the most affordable ways to generate electricity. As we add more solar energy to the grid, the price of solar will continue to drop as manufacturers scale up production, reducing the cost per panel.
Federal clean energy tax credits also allowed people, companies and organizations in Appalachia to claim 30% or more of the cost of an installation as a tax refund or direct payment. These credits helped to blunt rising electricity prices for all of us by bringing more lower-cost renewable energy into the mix.
Unfortunately, most of these tax credits expired earlier than Congress had initially approved due to the 2026 “Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill also significantly shortened the timeline for businesses, nonprofits and local governments to qualify for the federal solar Investment Tax Credit. Learn more about the ITC in this blog post from the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund.
Costs for farmers are going up, making it hard for them to stay in business. Leasing land to solar developers helps farmers stay on their land and generate income. Farmers who lease their land for solar can benefit from steady sources of income for 20-plus years — while keeping their land in the family for future generations.
Solar doesn’t have to replace agriculture. It can co-exist with certain crops, grazing livestock like sheep and cattle, native vegetation and beekeeping. This growing practice of combining agriculture and solar is called agrivoltaics.
Urban and suburban expansion are the biggest drivers of farmland loss. We can responsibly put solar on farmlands by paying attention to community desires through good planning and development, while protecting farmland and the environment.
Solar panels are built to withstand decades of rain, wind, hail and changing weather. Most continue producing electricity for 25 to 30 years or more. The global energy industry generates as much toxic coal ash waste in one month as all of the waste solar panels are expected to produce in the next 35 years.
Solar panels are made from the same materials used to produce hurricane windows, making them well-protected from the elements. They rigorously test for:
Solar panels are primarily made from recyclable materials. Glass, metal and wiring make up as much as 95% of the weight of a panel. Multiple companies are working to recycle solar panels, and federal agencies are helping to improve the process. As more panels reach the end of their lifespan over the coming decades, recycling technologies will improve rapidly, helping recover valuable materials that can be used again in future panels and other products.
As we build more solar, wind and energy storage across the country, we can power our homes with affordable clean energy while keeping us safe. Solar won’t solve every energy challenge we face, but it’s one of the most effective tools we have to lower energy costs, improve public health and build stronger communities. It’s time to embrace the power that solar has to offer.