You’ve Got the Power: A Guide to Generating Solar Electricity Today

You can now buy solar modules for less than $0.30 per watt, have complete systems installed for less than $3 per watt, and get a 30% tax credit in the United States.

How fast we’ve ramped up solar electricity since 2014 has surprised experts: next year, the United States will generate more electricity from sunlight than from hydropower! My guess is we haven’t seen anything yet. People now realize that electricity can affordably meet all their energy needs, even heating and transportation. Enough sunlight lands on single-family homes to power everything in and around them — not just lighting and appliances, but heating air and water, cooling and dehumidifying, and charging electric vehicles. As solar farms proliferate, everyone in North America uses more solar electricity without realizing it. If you’re worried about missing out, install solar on real estate you own and start generating valuable electricity from sunlight before it’s all gone. (Just kidding — we’ll never run out of sunshine!)

Two That Matter Most

To know how well you are meeting your need for energy without waste or unnecessary pollution, these two indicators matter most: