Public Utility Solar Farms are Popping up Everywhere

Solar energy is free. It costs nothing to generate or to renew. Its only expense is in the capital investment of equipment used for collection and distribution. Public utilities are beginning to see that it is not the demise of their systems, but their future. It seems like a no-brainer for all types of savings; savings of natural resources, savings in power production and savings in distribution.

Regardless of which type of renewable energy - hydro, wind, petroleum based or solar, there will be expense in collecting the resource. All other things created equal, we know that solar energy is going to be there for us now, and in the future. Wind and hydro power are subject to nature's rain and weather and probably can not be considered reliable, but in some regions the sun shines every day.

Duke Energy, a public utility headquartered in Charlotte, NC recently purchased 2400 acres of land in Davidson County. It is not for a new power production plant but rather a solar panel farm. Arrays of panels will be installed in this shade free spot with the sole purpose of providing alternative energy to Duke's Power grid. The 2400 acre farm is expected to produce enough energy to provide accommodation for 2300 homes.

These homes, if powered on a private, stand alone systems, could save an average homeowner 95% compared to Duke's current rates, and since that equates to thousands of dollars over the course of a home's life, it is likely we will be seeing Duke capitalize on that wattage production. Typical of all grass roots campaigns adopted by the mainstream, the cost savings for the individual will morph into corporate profit.

At an acre a home, it seems like a rather large land investment for energy production but Oregon, New Jersey, California and Florida all have similar projects underway and all with the focus of providing and supporting renewable energy so we are likely to see solar farms popping up everywhere.