Solar energy is often called “clean” energy, but what does that actually mean for the air we breathe, the land around us, and the communities we live in? Here is a balanced look at how solar panels affect the environment, including the benefits and the honest trade-offs, with a focus on what matters here in Utah.
Two Ways to Think About “Environment”
When people talk about the environment, they usually picture the natural world: blue skies, mountains, rivers, and forests. It is also worth thinking about our community environment, meaning the air quality, health, and economy of the towns we live in. Solar has an impact on both.
Cleaner Air and Better Health
Solar panels generate electricity without burning anything, so they produce no smoke, soot, or greenhouse gases while they operate. Power plants that burn fossil fuels release pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles that are linked to respiratory and heart problems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains these pollutants and their health effects on its criteria air pollutants page.
This matters along the Wasatch Front, where winter inversions trap pollution in the valleys. Rooftop solar does not stop inversions on its own, but every kilowatt-hour produced by the sun is one that does not have to come from burning fuel.
Lower Carbon Emissions
Electricity generation is a major source of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Solar panels do have a carbon footprint from manufacturing, shipping, and installation, but the federal national laboratory formerly known as NREL reviewed thousands of life cycle studies and found that solar’s life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions are considerably lower than those of coal or natural gas. You can read the summary in its life cycle assessment harmonization project.
Water Savings
Thermal power plants use large amounts of water for cooling. Solar PV panels need essentially no water to generate electricity, aside from occasional cleaning. In a dry state like Utah, where water is precious, that is a meaningful benefit.
Land Use: Rooftops First
Large solar farms do use land, and responsible siting matters. Rooftop and carport solar avoids that issue entirely by putting panels on space that is already built. For homes and businesses, a rooftop system puts clean power right where it is used.
The Honest Trade-Offs
No energy source is impact-free. A fair look at solar includes:
- Manufacturing. Making panels takes energy and raw materials, including mining.
- End of life. Panels last for decades, and recycling programs are still growing. The EPA’s solar panel FAQ covers end-of-life handling.
- Siting. Large ground-mounted projects need careful planning around habitat and land use.
Even with these factors, solar remains one of the lowest-impact ways to produce electricity over a system’s lifetime.
Community and Economic Benefits
Solar installations create local jobs in design, installation, and maintenance. Generating power close to where it is used also keeps more energy spending in the local economy. Homeowners and businesses gain more control over their energy costs, and with battery storage, more resilience during outages.
How You Can Make a Difference
- Install rooftop solar on your home or business. Explore our solar services.
- Add battery storage to use more of your own solar power and keep the lights on in an outage.
- Combine solar with energy efficiency upgrades like LED lighting and better insulation.
- Learn more about reasons to use solar power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar panels pollute while they run?
No. Solar panels produce no emissions while generating electricity. Their environmental impact comes mainly from manufacturing, transportation, and eventual disposal or recycling.
Are solar panels recyclable?
Much of a panel, including the glass, aluminum frame, and some metals, can be recovered. Recycling options continue to expand. The EPA FAQ linked above explains how panels are handled at end of life.
Does rooftop solar help Utah air quality?
Solar does not create local air pollution. Electricity it produces can reduce the need for power from fuel-burning plants, which is one piece of the broader effort to improve air quality.
Talk to a Local Utah Solar Team
Rocky Mountain Renewable Energy has been designing and installing solar systems for Utah homes and businesses since 2010, from our office at 778 Parkway Dr in North Salt Lake. If you would like straight answers for your own property, request a free quote or call us at 801-980-0700.
