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Opinion

Copple: Solar power's a real ‘win-win’ for the planet Earth

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In the past 40 years, potential solar customers used ROI (return on investment) as one of the main criteria whether to invest in solar or not (ROI calculation is cost for total installed solar system divided by expected total annual electrical bill savings).

Example: Total cost equals $21,000 and savings/year equals $3,000 would yield an ROI of 7 years.

Homeowners would have to decide how fast that they want a return on their investment. I now submit that today’s ROI needs to be defined as “repay our indebtedness.” What is this indebtedness?

If in the 1950s through 2000 we had started actively to invest in climate programs, then the cost today would not be in the trillions to implement climate remediation projects. This lack of initiative has piled debt on our future generations. Our climate indebtedness is increasing daily just like the U.S. debt clock on 42nd Street, New York City.

Solar is here, it’s proven, we have the sun, and it can be implemented immediately.

Reducing a household carbon footprint isn’t easy. The best way to do so is to purchase solar systems. This immediately starts the pay back of our debt owed to future generations. A win-win for us and our pale blue dot in space.