Letter: We should embrace solar energy in DeKalb County

To the Editor:

I was surprised to read in the Daily Chronicle that some members of our County Board voted against increasing solar projects in our county.

Our economics, ecology and history are better served by increasing solar nergy.

At the fundamental level, solar power is good. Everything about it is positive. American solar power creates abundant clean energy. Solar and wind power already have contributed to the American dream by integrating into the national electricity grid safely and reliably.

We live no more than 60 miles from the Chicago economy, an economy that produces more gross metropolitan output than the entire country of Sweden. According to Wikipedia, the economy of Illinois is the fifth largest by GDP in the U.S. and one of the most diversified economies in the world. Any limits on solar energy may have the disastrous effect of discouraging outside investment in our communities, as investors may choose to invest in areas that promote clean energy. Nobody wants outside investment to go around DeKalb County. We all want to improve our economic quality of life.

Solar power saves individual consumers significant amounts of money. A consumer can save up to 90% on their electric bill. I don’t know anyone who wants to pay more to utility companies. You probably don’t know anyone like that, either.

In addition to lowering our electric bills, there is a federal tax credit on the equipment. There are state and local rebates and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). It makes smart financial sense for everyone to embrace solar energy.

Solar power is excellent for the environment. Power derived from our sun is abundant and does not produce any greenhouse gases or air pollution. Nonrenewable energy, on the other hand, like fracking and oil drilling, causes earthquakes, water pollution and contributes to global warming. Solar power just makes good sense for the long-term vitality of our county.

We should embrace it without limits.

Scott R. McAdams

5th Ward alderman, DeKalb