This site is under construction 🚧🙂🚧 Message the mods at our Reddit community if you'd like to help. We'd be excited to have it!
Farmers can cut their own utility costs or even produce extra energy for sale to the grid. Solar panels can help shade crops which protects them from heat waves and hail storms, while also reducing the crop's need for irrigation.
Energy production on farms can help support the energy needs of rural communities and businesses. Mills and other processing locations could also benefit from the reduced cost of energy, vs the soaring costs of fossil fuels.
In places like Africa a female farmer may find that a solar pump reduces not only labor but boost crop production and income about 30%.
According to the Farmers Electric Cooperative, based on information from the U.S. Department of Energy the following are a variety of reasons why making the switch to EVs can be beneficial:
"Electric Vehicles (EV) Cost Less To Operate Than Gas Powered Cars.
EV operation can be three to five times cheaper than gasoline and diesel powered cars, depending on your local gasoline and electric rates.
EVs Are Environmentally Friendly.
EVs have no tailpipe emissions. The power plant producing your electricity may produce emissions, but electricity from hydro, solar, nuclear or wind-powered plants is generally emission-free.
Never Go To The Gas Station Again.
Electric vehicles do not require gasoline and can be charged at home with a standard 120V outlet or a 240V level 2 charger can be installed for faster, more efficient charging.
EV Performance Benefits.
Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation, stronger acceleration and require less maintenance than gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.
EV Driving Range & Recharge Time.
EV range is typically around 80 to over 330 miles on a full charge. The average American’s daily round-trip commute is less than 30 miles. Fully recharging the battery pack can take four to eight hours. A "fast charge" to 80% capacity can take 30 min."
"There are now 7,332 K-12 schools using solar power nationwide, making up 5.5% of all K-12 public and private schools in the United States.
Since 2014, K-12 schools saw a 139% increase in the amount of solar installed. Today, 5.3 million students attend a school with solar.
79% of the solar installed on schools was financed by a third party, such as a solar developer. This allows schools and districts, regardless of the size of their budget, to purchase solar energy and receive immediate energy cost savings.
Solar-powered school districts can save significantly on energy costs over time. For example, Tucson Unified School District in Arizona expects to save $43 million over 20 years. In Arkansas, the Batesville School District used energy savings to become the highest-paying school district in the county with teachers receiving up to $9,000 per year in raises.
The top five states for solar on schools are California, New Jersey, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Indiana." - The Solar Foundation: Solar Schools
Clean Energy Authority: Solar Energy Resources covers many topics from how many panels you need to power your home, and info about roof tile and flexible PV, as well as topics on specific technologies such as inverters, batteries, and hybrid PV/thermal systems.
The Avian Solar Work Group (ASWG) "is a collaborative group of environmental organizations, academics, solar companies, and solar industry representatives that will advance coordinated scientific research to better understand how birds interact with solar facilities."
Clean Energy Authority: Solar Incentives and Rebates By State, County, City and Utility use the map or scroll down for a list of states.