Corkery: Why I support solar power

Everyone knows that human-caused climate change is real. The scientists tell us that, and we are seeing it with our own eyes. It is heartbreaking when people lose loved ones or their homes or businesses because of extreme events fueled by climate change.

One of the best solutions is more solar power, the world's most rapidly growing source of energy. It is cheaper, faster, and cleaner than every energy source other than energy conservation and energy efficiency.

Here's more good news: In Iowa, we can power our entire state with less than 1% of our land put into solar power. Even with growing demand and electrification of cars, industrial processes, heating and cooling, and other appliances for home and work, we could easily power Iowa this century with less than 2% of our land with solar panels.

That means solar on commercial rooftops, new housing construction, parking lots, urban brownfields, and some carefully sited land currently used for farming.

I support the Duane Arnold Solar Project, because it creates jobs, generates clean and abundant renewable energy, and uses existing transmission capacity so we don't need so many big new transmission lines. Duane Arnold 4 will use battery storage, making solar even better.

Solar panels are helping the landowners who voluntarily participate. They can get more revenue from the solar panels - a lot more - and the land is protected from urban sprawl for future uses including agriculture.

I know some neighbors are concerned about the solar panels. I understand. It is a change, and they like to see their neighbors farm fields instead of solar panels. That's the way it was when they bought their property. Duane Arnold Solar does offer vegetative screening to affected neighbors. And unlike other possible developments, the neighbors won't smell it or hear it, and I know many people who like to look at solar panels.

Yet, residents' concerns about the changes that are coming is why the state needs a better proactive statewide process to identify the land (less than 2% of our total) that will be needed for solar panels. In Congress, I would support legislation to require utilities and their regulators to do that type of planning.

Our state needs clean, abundant renewable energy for jobs, for climate and the environment, and for our health. Let's keep it going!

Sarah Corkery is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd District.