People who drive by a mile-long field of solar panels might wonder what the real benefits of these big systems are. There are numerous benefits to the economy, the environment, and energy that you can’t see when you look at large scale solar installations.

First of all, huge solar panels are a terrific way to get energy that lasts. These installations don’t only throw off a little power. They make enough power to run tens of thousands or even millions of homes. This means we require less fossil fuels and release less greenhouse gases, which means less smog, fewer asthma attacks, and a smaller footprint on the globe. A solar farm with a gigawatt of power can stop as much carbon from getting into the air as taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road every year.

But the money benefits are just as strong. These projects are huge, so they can use something called “economies of scale.” This means that the more solar panels a farm has, the less it costs to put them up and maintain them up. Utility companies can usually negotiate long-term contracts for power at prices that don’t alter, no matter how crazy the fuel markets get. This is because they are so big. That means that utility bills will be more stable, and in many regions, energy will be cheaper for everyone.

This solar engine also makes jobs. People need to perform things like survey the land, drive fence posts, lay down cables, connect big battery banks, and keep everything running for these projects to work. When people work, dine out, shop, and pay taxes, it boosts the economy of the area. Landowners can sometimes create a steady income by renting out their land for solar panels. This helps rural communities get through hard times.

Keep in mind that it utilizes less water. Solar farms don’t need as much water to cool down as nuclear or coal power facilities do. This makes a tremendous difference in locations that are dry. Many people think that the land under the panels is “wasted,” however it can actually be a home for wildflowers or sheep, which are good for the environment.

In short, big solar projects give us clean energy, stable prices, a lot of jobs, and benefits for the community and the environment. It all starts with a simple, silent act: gathering sunlight and sharing it with the world. What else might be an excellent idea?