In just over a decade U.S. solar power capacity has reached an estimated 97.2 gigawatts, which is enough power equivalent to 18 million American homes! Today over 3% of the total electricity generated in the U.S. comes from solar farms. Let us read on to find out why these solar farms are becoming increasingly popular among Americans.
As solar farms use renewable energy from the sun, they are quite efficient energy-producing plants. Besides these farms are environmentally friendly and even though they take up large acres of land, they are safe for both humans and wildlife.
Effect of Solar Farms on our everyday life
Solar Farms are a source of sustainable energy that are seen to benefit the communities around them. Some of the pros of living near a solar farm are-
- Reduced Electric Cost: Solar Farm is an eco-friendly and safe way to produce electricity. The infrastructure is expensive but the taxation on solar farms is less than on fossil fuel-powered plants. These solar plants can generate extensive amounts of electric energy which will reduce electric bills.
- No Noise: Unlike the very noisy windmills or turbines, these solar farms are very quiet and will not cause obstructions in daily life. They are built in large areas with minimum human activity and are quite peaceful.
- Zero Pollution: One of the best things about these green energy plants is that they do not produce any waste or cause pollution. They are no harmful gases and the carbon dioxide produced per kWh is quite low. Compared to big cities with massive carbon emissions and air pollution, living near a solar farm is less hazardous.
- Lack of Power Disruption: Living near these farms will ensure constant electricity in your homes. Hence there will be no hindrances that are usually caused by power disruptions.
- Create new Jobs: These solar farms are projects that operate on a massive scale and employ hundreds of people. Living near a solar farm will create new job opportunities for many members of the nearby community.
Health Risks Living Near Solar Farm
There are no direct health risks related to living near a solar farm. These solar farms do not pose any adverse effect on people living near them. There are many concerns relating to electromagnetic radiation and waves from solar farms being unhealthy for humans. However, these remain unfounded as solar panels produce only a small amount of radiation which is not dangerous at all.
Some toxic chemicals like sulphuric and hydrochloric acids are used to clean parts of the photovoltaic panels. If they are not properly disposed of then there will be an impact on human health. Silicon produced during PV cell production can be harmful if inhaled directly.
Misconceptions about Solar Farm
As with any new technology, there are always myths and misconceptions as people are not ready to accept the change. Some popular misconceptions about solar farms are mentioned below:
1. Causes Radiation Cancer
All people assume that radiation is harmful. However, our everyday devices such as radios, mobile phones, and routers also impart radiation. And just like the trace radiation in solar farms, these radiations are also not harmful. So, it is safe to say any cancer or radiation cancer is not caused by living near a solar farm.
2. Causes Glare
Some people mention that solar panel causes glare or blinding lights. But it is not the case. Solar farms use photovoltaic panels to generate electricity which uses unreflective glass that can absorb light energy instead of reflecting it.
3. Have massive Electromagnetic fields
Solar plants produce very fewer amounts of electromagnetic fields which can be compared to those of household electronics like a microwave ovens. Therefore living in close proximity to solar farms will not cause any health risks.
4. Ruins Land
As solar panels are constructed expanding over large land areas, people mistakenly think that the land is ruined. But these farms actually help to cool the land under the panels making it suitable for agriculture. Agrivoltaic is the combination of agriculture and solar panels taught at some universities to make these farms even more eco-friendly.
5. Cold countries cannot use solar energy
Another misconception is that only warm countries can use this technology and it will be less effective in places with cold or cloudy weather. Technically, solar plants do not need bright days to generate electricity. Snow which reflects light is actually helpful for solar farms.
Read More: What Questions To Ask A Solar Company About Their Prices
Solar Farms have the potential to change the way the world produces electricity. According to predictions by various scientists, in the near future, Solar energy could become the source of a quarter of the earth’s entire electric energy production!
With continual innovations and developments in this sector, solar farms are becoming more accessible to people. With no discernable health risks and zero pollution, solar energy is a choice for all environmentally conscious Americans.
Key Takeaways
- There are NO health risks living near the solar farm
- Solar farms are eco-friendly, zero waste-producing electricity generation plants
- Solar farms have facilitated cost reduction of electricity
- Solar farms do not produce any toxic gas or noise.
