SolFarm Solar Co.

  • About Solfarm
    • About Solfarm Solar Co.
    • Meet Our Team
    • Featured Projects
    • Employment Opportunities
  • About Solar Energy
    • Why Go Solar
    • How Solar Energy Works
    • Solar Energy FAQ
  • Services
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Non-Profit Solar Energy
    • Battery Backup Power
    • Smartflower
    • Removal & Re-Installation
    • Solar Energy Maintenance
    • Microgrids
    • EV Charging Stations
  • Financing, Incentives & Rebates
    • Solar Energy Financing
    • South Carolina Savings
    • USDA REAP Grants & Loans
  • Blog
  • Contact
REQUEST A QUOTE
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Solar Trumps Coal Environmentally and Economically
Texas wind turbines
Tuesday, 17 July 2018 / Published in Climate Change, Policy, Solar Energy, Solar News, Solar Technology

Solar Trumps Coal Environmentally and Economically

In a competitive market, coal is more expensive than both solar and wind.

In 2001, Texas created a competitive electricity market in that the least expensive resources go on the grid first. At that time, wind supplied less than one percent of Texas’ energy. As of 2018, 20 percent of the market is wind power. With technology and increased production lowering the cost of renewables, there are less arguments, than ever before, for the steady destruction of mountainous landscapes created by America’s need for coal.

Due to the competitive market, Texas has retired coal-fired plants, replacing them with natural gas which is significantly less expensive. By the end of next year, wind is expected to generate more electricity for Texans than coal as more plants are retired. However, these retired plants are largely being replaced by more efficient and less expensive natural gas plants. While natural gas beats coal in an environmentally-friendly competition, it is still a fossil fuel.

Texas’ competitive electricity market creates a fairer fight between renewables and fossil fuels when compared to other state and federal energy policies. Still, fossil fuels have an advantage. The hidden costs related to fossil fuel use like the consequences of climate change, explosions during drilling, transportation, spills and leaks, or burning process, and the pollution of land surrounding gas wells, is not included in the price comparisons of natural gas and renewables.

However, there is still hope. As we continue to burn the finite source of natural gas, it will face the same, inevitable dilemma of oil and coal. The low hanging fruit will be harvested, and the remaining sources will be difficult, dangerous, and expensive to gather while the cost of renewable energy continues to plummet. Someday, the market will favor it.

Will the invisible hand of the free market move soon enough? Don’t wait to see. Ease America’s dependency on fossil fuels by making a personal change in your energy source. Contact SolFarm Solar Co to see what you can do to save the planet.

What you can read next

Maximizing Your Savings: Understanding the Federal Solar Tax Credit
SolFarm Solar Co. Asheville, NC Solar energy installation installer
Sustainable Design Pro: Kelly Gloger
Energy Consumers Can Help Save the Earth Too

Newsletter Signup

Join our mailing list to stay up to date on SolFarm blog posts and events

Search for posts

Recent Posts

  • How North Carolina Homeowners Can Benefit from Duke Energy’s Net Metering Program

  • Duke PowerPair Program’s Bright Opportunity for North Carolina Homeowners

  • Maximizing Your Savings: Understanding the Federal Solar Tax Credit

  • SolFarm partners with non-profits to train and employ individuals from economically marginalized communities

  • EV charging infrastructure

    EV Market Growth and Infrastructure Expansion

  • Solar shingles

    Solar Shingles – Worth the Hype?

  • Enphase Ensemble and microinverter

    IQ8 Microinverter and the all new Ensemble by Enphase

  • Fossil Fuel pollution

    Mammoth Fossil Fuel Subsidies

  • Residential solar panels

    Solar Panels Increase Home Resale Value

  • DC’s Ambitious Clean Energy Requirement

  • Four Decades of Dropping Solar Prices Explained

  • solfarm solar co barn usda rural renewable energy

    USDA Grants & Loans For Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

  • SolFarm Solar Co residential solar installation

    NC Solar Access Laws – Your Right to Solar Energy

  • Australia battery subsidy

    Australia Offering Battery Subsidies

  • Green Neighborhoods list 2018

    Green Neighborhoods

  • coastal flooding caused by climate change

    Coastal Flooding Projected To Rise

  • Residential solar energy pv system array

    Solar Tariffs Less of a Threat Than First Predicted

  • NAACP Fumes Across Fence Line

    Environmental Injustice

  • Landfill brownfield image

    Trash to Solar

  • Craft brewers go solar

    Craft Brewers Going Solar

Recent Comments

    • Read more + March 18, 2024 By solfarm in Solar Energy

      How North Carolina Homeowners Can Benefit from Duke Energy’s Net Metering Program

    • Read more + March 13, 2024 By solfarm in Solar Energy, Solar News

      Duke PowerPair Program’s Bright Opportunity for North Carolina Homeowners

    • Read more + March 8, 2024 By solfarm in Solar Energy, Solar News

      Maximizing Your Savings: Understanding the Federal Solar Tax Credit

    • Read more + May 26, 2021 By solfarm in Solar Energy, Solfarm News

      SolFarm partners with non-profits to train and employ individuals from economically marginalized communities

    • EV charging infrastructure Read more + March 5, 2020 By solfarm in Climate Change, Policy

      EV Market Growth and Infrastructure Expansion

    • Solar shingles Read more + January 6, 2020 By solfarm in Solar Technology

      Solar Shingles – Worth the Hype?

    • Enphase Ensemble and microinverter Read more + July 18, 2019 By solfarm in Solar Technology

      IQ8 Microinverter and the all new Ensemble by Enphase

    • Fossil Fuel pollution Read more + June 7, 2019 By solfarm in Policy

      Mammoth Fossil Fuel Subsidies

    • Residential solar panels Read more + May 21, 2019 By solfarm in Solar Energy, Solar News

      Solar Panels Increase Home Resale Value

    • Read more + February 8, 2019 By solfarm in Climate Change, Policy, Solar News

      DC’s Ambitious Clean Energy Requirement

    SolFarm Solar Co logo white

    SolFarm offers full-service solar installation for Residential and Commercial customers. We have a team of certified solar professionals ready to work with you in designing your new system. SolFarm is committed to the relationship we start building at the initial consultation. We will be with you in every step of the installation process and beyond.

    Contact SolFarm Solar Co.

    ASHEVILLE OFFICE PHONE:

    (828) 332 - 3003

    [email protected]

    ASHEVILLE OFFICE ADDRESS:

    739 Glenn Bridge Rd
    Arden, NC 28704

    TOP