Many discussions regarding solar energy sound “too good to be true” to customers as the benefits appear far from realistic. Convincing customers that the cost of installing solar panels eventually would pay for itself was hard enough, and now builders propose that building too many solar panels is better than solar panels alone. Further, the increasing rate of wildfires and power outages in California is substantially helping builders’ dreams appear within reach. When power grids fail from weather conditions, solar storage is a quick and simple alternative, yet much of the state still relies on battery backup systems that have not yet proven failure. Despite this, as rolling blackouts caused by PG&E become more common, customers’ interest in energy storage quickly rises as they incorporate solar systems. In order to truly convince the public, though, solar companies promise four future aspects of solar power systems: energy independence from competitors, more price range choices, protection from power outages, and a substantial effort to save the future of the planet. Before environmentally-beneficial results can take place, the only necessities remaining are public agreement and the increased building of solar farms.

As the rate of wildfires seems to increase substantially with excess power usage, installing solar panels and added storage makes complete sense. Not only will the use of solar panels themselves help to better the planet, but reducing the risk of wildfires also saves forests and wildlife, in addition to ensuring human safety. Because the forced power outages are highly inconvenient, customers can be quickly persuaded to purchase solar energy to give them a more reliable and less dangerous backup battery system, while simultaneously reducing their ecological footprint. As traumatic as wildfires are, they have opened the public’s eyes to the need for environmentally-friendly systems, as our current methods of providing power are wrecking more havoc to ourselves and our planet. Thus, this article relates to environmental science as it encourages a shift in energy resources and pushes for excess solar panel installment, to ensure a better planet and better electricity in general.