Renewable energy resources like solar and wind power do not require the burning of fuel for energy. As a result, renewable energy resources do not contribute to increased pollution or climate change.

Most of the electricity in Minnesota currently comes from coal-burning facilities, and coal is the dirtiest of the fossil fuels. Offsetting the need to burn coal for electricity by using photovoltaic solar systems to harness the energy from the sun for electricity production has significant environmental benefits because we’ve replaced a coal burning resource with a zero pollution resource that is abundant on the planet.

Each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity from a coal-burning facility contributes the following pollutants to the atmosphere:

     Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
     Nitrogen Oxide
     Sulfur Dioxide
     Mercury

It is estimated that a 2 kW solar electric system producing 3,312 kWh/year would have these annual savings to our environment:

      7,240 pounds of Greenhouse Gases (CO2)
      22 pounds of Nitrogen Oxides
      26 Pounds of Sulfur Dioxide
      55 Milligrams of the toxic metal mercury

Taking into account the fact that the average Minnesota family uses 850 kWh of electricity each month, making your own electricity from solar power has significant environmental benefits!