Environmental Benefits

Each year over 400 trainloads of coal are burned to provide electricity for the Tucson area – 10,000 pounds per car, 100 cars per train. While coal has been a relatively cheap consistent form of energy for decades, the negative impacts of burning coal are numerous. In the Southwest, in particular, the burning of coal to support our energy needs pollutes our air, contributes to global warming, and uses precious groundwater supply (for producing steam to spin the turbines). Burning coal also depletes and pollutes the water table on Hopi lands, jeopardizing the livelihood of those who live there.

Each installed kW of solar generates about 135 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity per month, also:

• preventing about 135 lbs. of coal from being mined and burned,
• saving over 70 gallons of water from being used,
• preventing about 270 lbs. of CO₂ emissions, combating global warming,
• reducing sulfur and nitrogen emissions, contributors to smog and acid rain.

A 3 kW PV system offers the following benefits:

A 30 kW PV system offers the following benefits:

For comparison:

• the average car on the road emits 11,450 lbs. of CO₂ / year.
• you would need to plant 1.3 acres of trees to absorb the 9,600 lbs. of CO₂ saved by a 3 kW system.

To calculate your current CO₂ footprint, try one of these Carbon Calculators:
www.safeclimate.net
www.chuck-wright.com
www.carboncounter.org

Commercial Incentives
How it Works
How to Proceed