What do solar, organic, non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free have in common? Well, they are all touted to be better for you than the traditional alternatives.
Will you need to open up the wallet a bit more to benefit from all of them? That would likely be our first question.
If they are more beneficial, there must be a premium attached! This is an understandable concern when browsing the organic section of a grocer’s fresh produce department, walking down the gluten-free aisle, or preparing a vegan meal.
This makes solar power the miraculous exception, though many people would assume the opposite. Believing that since solar is considered a cleaner choice, it must be more expensive than traditional power. After all, why would the government pay us tax credits to invest?
The simple answer is that at one time solar power was more expensive than electricity purchased from the utility. Many of us believe it has stayed that way. Quite to the contrary.
In the last two decades, the cost of utility power has increased some 60% in the US. In the last decade, solar power prices have dropped by 60%. Government incentives remain to encourage our investment in this clean choice, stabilize the electrical grid and embrace energy independence.
The average cost of solar electricity is 4 to 5 cents per kWh over the 30+ year life of a system. Current utility electricity averages 12 cents and could easily rise to 20 cents per kWh over the next 30 years.
Investing $1 in a solar system today will save you $3 in future electric utility bill payments.
Yes, you can have your cake, and eat it too! (providing it’s organic, non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free 😊)
