There has never been a better time to harness the power of the sun for our homes.
Solar power technology has progressed rapidly in the last two decades and is now one of the lowest cost ways to keep the lights on, the fridge humming and that new induction stove cooking.
Our new report looks at the financial side of adding solar to rooftops in a number of major Ontario municipalities. It also outlines the many unnecessary hurdles that homeowners face when it comes to adding solar to their homes.
Right now, the Ford government’s solution for meeting rising demand for electricity from EVs, heat pumps and other electrification efforts is to burn more polluting fossil gas. That’s an extremely poor solution to an easily solved problem. Burning more fossil gas will make the climate crisis and air quality worse while costing Ontarians plenty in higher electricity costs.
Rooftop solar, on the other hand, produces power where it is needed, reducing the need for expensive electricity system upgrades and improving local system resiliency in the face of increasingly powerful storms. It also produces electricity with zero local air pollution and carbon.
We need local utilities to become solar champions and embrace a future of highly efficient, distributed power systems. Streamlining application processes and reducing connection fees are just the first steps utilities should be taking to stop throwing shade on one of our best climate solutions. Greater support for homeowners who want to make a difference with solar rooftops through long-term on-bill financing and incentives is also part of the answer to making roofs do a lot more than just keep the rain out.
Of course, the rapidly falling cost of power storage makes solar an even more exciting option, and that again is something utilities should be working with homeowners to exploit. And utilities should be working with groups of neighbours and community members to deploy solar in innovative ways, whether that is on their own rooftop or on the local school, community centre or arena.
Learn more in our new report: An Analysis of Climate and Financial Benefits of Rooftop Solar Arrays on Ontario’s Single-Family Homes and the Barriers to Adoption.
And then please click here to send a message to Ontario party leaders and your local MPP to #TripleWindAndSolar!
The sun’s energy is free forever. That’s a deal we need to make the most of.