Five Solar Myths Debunked

Solar is powering a clean energy future in Virginia. Now considered a national leader in new solar developments, Virginia’s solar capacity has grown significantly in recent years, and 2.57% of the state’s electricity is now generated by the sun. That’s helping to power nearly 284,000 homes across the Commonwealth. 

The rise of solar in Virginia has been rapid — in just the first three months of this year, the state installed more capacity than it had in 2018 and 2019 combined. Virginia’s solar leader status is the result of monumental legislation signed into law over the past two years that prioritizes a carbon-free electric grid by 2050. As a result, Virginians can expect not only cleaner, healthier air, but also the proliferation of high-paying clean energy jobs and more economic investment in communities close to home. 

While there’s much to celebrate, solar energy still faces obstacles in Virginia. Pervasive myths cause many people, including elected officials, to resist the widespread adoption of solar energy. Below, we debunk five of the myths hindering progress on solar in Virginia. 

Myth: Solar is too expensive to be worth the investment.

While the cost of installing solar panels on a home remains somewhat high — on average, about $14,500 — solar panels generally end up paying for themselves. It takes roughly 12 years for a home solar installation to recover the initial investment, and power generated during that time can be sold to utilities as credits. To make solar more affordable, the federal government currently offers a tax credit to those who install solar panels, which covers 26% of the system cost. Since solar panels employ simple technology, minimal maintenance is needed, which helps to keep costs down. All in all, those who install solar on their homes end up saving nearly $19,000 over 20 years.

Myth: Solar destroys our already diminishing farmland.

To meet the goals set by the Virginia Clean Economy Act, over 16,000 acres will need to be developed for solar panel siting. With millions of acres of U.S. farmland destroyed in recent decades, there are concerns that solar siting could be yet another reason farmland is being increasingly used for non-agricultural purposes. But the data says otherwise. Rather than destroy farmland, solar panels help crops grow, and provide an additional revenue stream for farmers. 

Crops and solar panels can be co-located, and studies show solar panels can actually contribute to a higher agricultural yield. And by participating in a land-lease agreement permitting solar panels on a farm, farmers guarantee a revenue source from the clean energy production, even during seasons when crops can’t be harvested. This revenue source can help farmers resist pressure to sell their land to real estate developers, who do diminish farmland. Solar doesn’t destroy farmland, it preserves it. 

Myth: Even if solar doesn’t diminish farmland, it still takes up too much space.

There’s no doubt that 16,000 acres is a lot of space. However, it’s less than 1% of the 27 million acres that make up Virginia’s total acreage. There’s plenty of unused land in the state that would make a good home for solar, including rooftops, abandoned mines, and brownfields. Virginia has roughly 205 million square feet of rooftop available for solar panel installation, enough space to generate over 30% of the electricity used by the state in 2013. Abandoned coal mines are another option — as Virginia phases out coal production, these sites could make for an uncontroversial site for clean energy generation. Brownfields, or land soiled by hazardous contaminants, are another option for siting that won’t take up valuable land.

Myth: Solar isn’t an option for those living in apartments and other multi-family buildings.

There are countless resources available for homeowners curious about installing solar panels on their homes, but that doesn’t mean those living in apartment buildings or other types of multi-family buildings are being left out. Thanks to legislation passed in 2020, shared solar is becoming a reality in Virginia. With shared solar, energy flows from nearby solar panels to a group of customers, such as those living in apartment buildings. This allows residents to take advantage of solar energy without installing solar panels on their own rooftop. Dominion Energy, however, has proposed an excessive fee for participation in this program; the General Assembly should amend the shared solar law to impose a limit to monthly bills. 

Myth: Homeowners associations can stop residents from installing solar panels.

Homeowners associations impose certain rules and regulations for communities of homeowners. Between 2014 and 2020, over 300 homeowners were prevented from installing solar panels by HOAs throughout Virginia. Under a law newly amended in 2020, HOAs are not able to ban solar installations unless existing bylaws expressly prohibit the installations. And an HOA cannot impose restrictions on solar installations that would cause the price of the installation to rise by 5% or cause the amount of energy produced to decrease by 10%. So while reasonable restrictions exist, HOAs are now largely unable to ban solar installations outright. 

Despite existing misinformation, Virginia has seen incredible progress being made toward a clean energy future, especially in regard to solar energy. With facts in hand, solar energy and other forms of renewables can overcome implementation obstacles to deliver clean energy, economic development, and strong jobs to Virginians.

Early voting is currently underway in Virginia. Voters will be deciding on the next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, as well as which party will control the House of Delegates. The results of this election will have a profound impact on the future of clean energy in Virginia. Thank you for staying well-informed on these important issues, and remember to make your voice heard during this election cycle!