Dara Bortman, Co-Founder of Exact Solar
“Solar energy is now the cheapest energy ever created. And, the technology used to create solar energy will continue to get less expensive and more efficient - that's the nature of technology. With no fuel costs ever - no volatile costs for exploration, mining, extracting, transporting, or burning - the price gap compared to traditional, fossil fuel based energy will continue to get larger. It is already less expensive in some cases to build and produce energy from a completely new grid-scale solar array than to get energy from an existing fossil fuel power plant. Think about that - it's already a waste of money to continue investing in maintaining, let alone building new, fossil fuel infrastructure. That's the reality we need to help policymakers and investors realize.
Another thing about these numbers - they don't take into account the fossil fuel subsidies embedded into our existing system - billions and billions of dollars of our taxpayer money hidden in the numbers and propping up these dying industries artificially. Renewables are competing even with these long-standing subsidies in place. Without these subsidies, coal would have been dead long ago, unable to compete in the competitive energy markets. Other fossil fuels wouldn't be far behind.
Also not included in these numbers are the trillions of dollars in societal damage caused by burning fossil fuels. How much is clean air and clean water worth? How much is each life lost to compromised health from dirty air worth? These things may be hard to quantify, but the value of lost or damaged property from rising seas, harsher storms, more frequent wildfires, pipeline spills, and more are easier to put a value on. These trillions of dollars are the cost of inaction - the cost of business as usual that we as a society are already paying (and that the fossil fuel companies are casting onto us while spending billions on lobbying that manipulates climate science and influences the creation of policies that keep the playing field tilted in their favor).
We already have the technology today to run the world on 100% renewable energy. And we're finding that, contrary to expectations, integrating clean energy into our country's grid is creating a more resilient and secure energy system and cheaper energy. And doing nothing isn't free. In fact, the status quo is dangerous and expensive.
As co-owner of a local, solar installer, I've been proud to help our neighbors reduce their carbon footprints and help with the transition to a cleaner energy economy. We know that clean energy jobs are the fastest growing, well-paid jobs in the US and we're proud to provide our employees with a living wage that supports their families and allows them to thrive. We see that transitioning to 100% clean energy isn't only possible, but it gets more and more affordable and necessary every day.
And as a board member of the American Solar Energy Society, I see that a transition to 100% clean energy is a true win-win-win - a win for our health and economy - a win for jobs and people - and a win for clean air and clean water. I am committed to keep fighting to make that transition as fast, efficient, and equitable as possible. I'm optimistic that we are on the right track to do it.”
