Why Solar?

Solar is an Economic Engine

A robust solar industry in the U.S. is an economic engine that will help relieve a struggling American economy. With aggressive and effective national policy, solar power will create tens of thousands of jobs across the country and will spur billions of dollars in economic growth and tax revenue. Consider the growth of solar in 2007:

• New solar installations nationwide increased by more than 40 percent from 2006 to 2007.
• Expansions of solar energy companies resulted in 6,000 new jobs, 265 megawatts of energy and more than $2 billion of investment in the U.S. economy by Wall Street firms such as JP Morgan, Chase and Goldman Sachs.
• The first utility-scale solar power plant in the U.S. in 18 years went online. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that an additional thirty gigawatts of solar energy would result if the ITC is extended for 8 years. This is enough energy to power more than five million homes! NREL also estimates that the solar market would continue to drive increased deployment even after the tax credits expire.

An expanding solar market creates thousands of new jobs - jobs like electricians, construction workers, plumbers, line workers, roofers, engineers and high-paying manufacturing positions - for a struggling economy.

Solar Leads the Way in Stabilizing America's Energy Security

Energy security is increasingly finding its way into the national consciousness. Whether in terms of national security or our ability to respond to domestic challenges such as natural disasters, energy is one of the most critical issues facing the U.S. Solar provides crucial energy supplies vital to the function of homes, businesses and the entire economy.

According to the Energy Information Agency, two-thirds of the petroleum and 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is imported from other countries, and U.S. production of both is dropping while consumption continues to rise.

A fully-developed U.S. solar market will decrease our over dependence on foreign sources of oil and natural gas and meet long term demands for domestically produced energy. The U.S. must make a long term investment in a diverse, clean, and renewable energy portfolio - with solar in the lead - if it is to have a secure energy future.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun to Confront Global Climate Change.

As global climate change impacts the way the U.S. addresses environmental policy, conducts business and harnesses energy, the solar energy industry is leading the way with a renewable energy source that creates economic growth and reduces carbon emissions. Solar is an emission-free source of electricity and hot water that can be immediately deployed to reduce the nation's growing carbon footprint.

As the federal government considers climate change legislation in the coming months and years, Congress should create carbon output-based market rules that encourage carbon-free technologies and allow energy sources such as solar to be rewarded for producing pollution free electricity.

Each minute enough sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface to meet the world’s energy demand for an entire year.  You can use clean electricity from photovoltaic panels on your home or business to replace power produced by coal, oil, and nuclear power plants.

A solar power system ties into your current utility connection, turning your electric meter backwards when the sun shines.  Photovoltaic technology is proven, reliable, and has no moving parts. Most Solar panels come with a 25 year warranty. A solar power system on your home or business demonstrates your commitment to clean, renewable energy.

Over its 35-year expected life, a 10 kW system will provide the equivalent CO2 reduction as planting 1450 trees. (Based on typical utility pollution, it will prevent emissions of 963,125 lbs of carbon dioxide, 4,237 lbs of sulfur dioxide, and 1,364 lbs of nitrogen oxides.) It will produce 575,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, as much as would be generated by burning 583,000 lbs of coal. 

At Illinois Solar, we believe that business should add value to the environment and society as well as the economy.
We are committed to creating value by balancing nature, humanity, and technology. We also believe that the best way to succeed in this mission is to provide our customers with solutions that fit their needs