It’s no secret that businesses have taken a huge hit due to COVID-19. While the current focus of the nation remains on alleviating the significant health concerns accompanying this pandemic, businesses grapple to adapt to the new culture of social distancing, economic hardship and reduced workforce. Efforts to boost the economy can start with an emphasis towards sustainability. As communities wait on the country to transition into recovery, environmental thought leaders like SunPower see the opportunity for a greener future.

  1. Solar Creates Jobs

Just as investments in clean technology spur on the U.S. economy, so do its contributions to the American workforce. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recently announced 2019 a record year for solar, accounting for 40% of all new electric generating capacity additions in the United States. Following this demand, solar jobs have increased rapidly, leading to nearly 250,000 jobs over the past decade as reported by The Solar Foundation in The National Solar Jobs Census 2019.

SunPower boasts more than 1,300 employees strong in the United States. In addition, it supports a U.S. dealer network that is second to none with nearly 700 independent commercial and residential dealers in 45 states. These small businesses typically employ about 20 employees each on average, contributing to local communities and representing more than 14,000 indirect jobs.

  1. Solar Energy Fights Climate Change

While the world experiences the current health crisis that is coronavirus, it has been fighting another global crisis for quite some time, climate change. Americans have a chance to revitalize the U.S. economy by investing in climate healthy initiatives including solar power. The burning of fossil fuels to power homes and businesses leads to about one-third of the nation’s carbon emissions. As a clean technology solution, adopting solar energy can help reduce the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere. Each solar system installed can take us a step closer to preventing natural disasters like the Australian wildfires that occurred in late 2019.

  1. Solar Power is Cost-Effective

Solar has become increasingly affordable throughout the years for both home and business owners looking to save with an alternative energy source. State rebates and the solar investment tax credit (ITC) give homeowners multiple opportunities to save on solar. And as continued advancements in solar technology increase efficiency, homeowners can generate more power at a lower cost. SunPower® panels are the most efficient in the industry1, allowing homeowners to save money on their utility bills over time. This efficiency has played a major role in helping SunPower maintain its position as #1 in U.S. commercial solutions for three consecutive years in a row.2 Performance combined with the ability for solar owners to reduce their carbon footprint make supporting a greener future an easy decision.

In conclusion, while the solar industry actively searches for solutions to reconcile its current losses, it will recover stronger than ever as its increasing value continues to be recognized across the globe. Solar brings with it plenty of benefits including job opportunities, the prevention of climate change and providing an affordable renewable energy source. Homeowners can play a role in this recovery by investigating the benefits of solar to see if it’s right for their needs. Get started by setting up an online appointment to learn more about how SunPower solar solutions can work for your home.

1Highest efficiency panels available:Based on datasheet review of websites of top 20 manufacturers per IHS, as of January 2020.

2 SunPower ranked #1 in the U.S. for commercial capacity for in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Wood Mackenzie, March 2020.