National Clean Energy Week
September 23-27, 2024
National Clean Energy Week is quickly approaching, being recognized September 23 through September 27, 2024. In July, Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation officially recognizing National Clean Energy Week in Alabama. Let’s take a look at why this week should be so important to us, as Alabamians.
Alabama’s Solar Potential
Solar energy shines bright for Alabama’s clean energy future. Currently, there are 45 solar companies operating in our state. Three of the newest are large-scale manufacturers in North Alabama.
First Solar, which has built a panel assembly plant in Lawrence County, stands to bring more than $1 billion in investment and over 700 jobs. Nearby, in Limestone County, OMCO Solar plans to create 70 full-time jobs by investing over $10 million into its second Alabama facility producing steel structures for solar panels. These two companies are working together to boost domestic manufacturing as OMCO Solar will be producing backrails to be used on First Solar’s panels. Our state’s newest solar manufacturer is Runergy Alabama. Their facility is under construction in Huntsville and has begun hiring to begin solar panel production later this year.
Solar manufacturing, bolstered by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, aren’t the only clean energy additions cropping up. As of late, we are seeing large-scale solar arrays being proposed across the state. From Montgomery, to Lawrence County, and Huntsville, solar developers, utilities, and municipal governments are seeking to build out more solar power.
In the coming years, we will see even more solar power coming online in Alabama, sponsored by Solar for All, a $7 billion grant competition sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Energy Alabama and 12 Alabama-based municipal utilities are a part of Groundswell’s Southeastern Rural Power Coalition, which received a $156 million award. The coalition will create equitable access to affordable, resilient solar power for low-income and rural communities.
What’s Holding Us Back?
While things may appear to be “sunshine” and rainbows as we head into National Clean Energy Week this year, it’s important to acknowledge the dark clouds still hanging over Alabama’s clean energy future. Despite promising proposals for solar arrays across the state, some of these face significant pushback from surrounding communities. Take the one in Montgomery, for example. There, many residents’ concerns around environmental impact, the local economy, and zoning – to name a few – come from misconceptions. Solar, in general, around much of the state faces an uphill battle as backward regulatory policies put in place by the Alabama Public Service Commission and Alabama Power make solar cost-prohibitive to many residential, small-scale, and commercial-scale users.
Fighting for a Clean Energy Future for All
Solar manufacturing and energy arrays are not the only things on the rise when it comes to energy in the Yellowhammer State. Currently, Alabamians pay the third-highest energy bills in the nation. Just last year, the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC), responsible for regulating the state’s largest utility, Alabama Power, approved at least three customer rate increases. The PSC is composed of three elected officials, who should be looking out for Alabamians and practicing transparency, approved these increases – totaling more than $270 a year – with no public hearing or input period.
This is all while Alabama’s average annual salary ranks 51st out of all U.S. states and territories. Amid inflation, predatory utility practices, and lower-than-average annual household income, 41.4% of households in Alabama have reported having to choose between necessities like food and medicine, or paying their energy bill.
That is a choice no one should have to make, especially as utilities’ profits soar and their executives reap the benefits. In 2023, investor-owned electric and gas utilities paid their CEOs more than $647 million, a 9% increase from the previous year. Last year, Southern Company, the parent company of Alabama Power, paid former CEO Tom Fanning a staggering $33 million, and current CEO Chris Womack $23 million.
Along with our friends, Energy Alabama is working to create a better energy future for all Alabamians. Let’s celebrate Alabama’s progress this Clean Energy Week but also acknowledge we have a lot of work to do to make sure all Alabamians can access the cost savings and economic development of clean energy, even if some want to hold the state back.
