The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
No Result
View All Result

More solar on superstores. Then, a carbon fee.

America’s largest retailers are slowly installing rooftop solar, but next step needed.

by Ed Ignatoff
February 15, 2022
in Influencers
0

By Ed Ignatoff

It’s heartening to hear that a great many superstores have committed themselves to powering much of their energy needs through rooftop solar, given the energy potential of their big flat sunny roofs.

Consider these facts from the nonprofit Environment America Research & Policy Center:

  • Nationwide, there are over 100,000 superstores, with almost 7.2 billion square feet of rooftop. They could replace half of their annual electricity use with rooftop solar.
  • An average Walmart has 180,000 square feet of rooftop, about the size of three football fields. That rooftop space could support enough solar energy to power nearly 200 homes.
  • Florida has almost 7,000 superstores. Equipped with solar, their rooftops could power close to 655,000 Florida homes.
Ed Ignatoff

Some of America’s largest retailers already grasp the business case for rooftop solar. At the end of 2019, Apple, Amazon, Walmart and Target were the leaders of the American corporate world in rooftop solar electricity production. Walmart’s California solar installations already are providing between 20% and 30% of each location’s electricity needs. Still, more must be done, especially in Florida.

Besides rooftop solar, some superstores also are installing solar in parking lots, which similarly offer flat, open and sunny areas. Elevated solar panels have the added benefit of providing shade for parked cars.

Corporations increasingly recognize the economic and societal value of solar — and are responding to the demands of their customers and shareholders. The Yale program on Climate Change Communication reported this year that about six in 10 (59%) of Americans are alarmed or concerned about the effects of climate change. Over recent years, Americans have become more worried about global warming, more receptive to climate solutions and more cognizant that the burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor.

The report encourages businesses to set more ambitious goals for solar installations and to invest the resources needed to meet those goals.

But it shouldn’t stop there. American business leaders should also support policies that would decrease the burning of fossil fuels.     

One of the most effective ways to do that is to place a price on carbon as spelled out in the Energy Innovation and Dividend Act, which is currently in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would impose a fee — not a tax — on carbon emissions, and return that money to citizens in a monthly check. The fee would gradually increase the price of products made with the use of fossil-fuel energy, like coal and petroleum. But higher prices would encourage consumers to buy less and keep that monthly check in their pocket. It also would spur coal and oil companies to innovate clean-energy solutions.

A carbon fee is included in the continuing Build Back Better negotiations.  Even Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said recently that “If you’re serious about climate, put a price on carbon.”

Please join me in encouraging American business leaders — and Florida’s congressional delegation — to support the Energy Innovation and Dividend Act because reducing carbon pollution would benefit us all. 

Ed Ignatoff leads the Boca Raton chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Tags: carbon feecitizens' climate lobbyEnergy Innovation and Dividend ActEnvironment America Research & Policy Centersuperstore solar
Previous Post

Florida Senate births sneaky scheme to help Big Sugar

Next Post

Let Florida cities and counties curb plastic pollution in local waterways

Related Posts

Eliminating Miami’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability is  no way to fight climate change
Other

A Florida mother has decided that everyone needs to start getting serious about the grim climate-change evidence

by Amanda Sherlock
March 14, 2022
A transition to clean energy would break Russia’s geopolitical hold
Influencers

A transition to clean energy would break Russia’s geopolitical hold

by Madeleine Para
March 9, 2022
Is South Florida Doomed By Sea-Level Rise? Experts Say No. In Fact, They’re Optimistic
Influencers

Make a New Year’s resolution to repair our democracy and tackle the threats from the warming climate

by Sam Daley-Harris
December 29, 2021
Next Post
Let Florida cities and counties curb plastic pollution in local waterways

Let Florida cities and counties curb plastic pollution in local waterways

Twitter Facebook

About the Project

The Invading Sea is a collaboration by news organizations across Florida to address the threat we face from sea-level rise. We want to raise awareness, amplify the voice of our region and create a call to action that can’t be ignored. Read More

Archives

Categories

Audio Editorials Faces of Sea Level Rise Influencers In The News Other The Business of Climate Change Video

Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required


© 2022 The Invading Sea

No Result
View All Result
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About

© 2022 The Invading Sea

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In