A local medical relief nonprofit has taken a step to use renewable energy in its operations. Global Links, based in Green Tree, recently installed more than 100 solar panels on its roof.
Pennsylvania currently ranks 22nd for solar energy projects, according to the publication Solar Power World, and has set a goal to increase the sector statewide by 10 percent in the next decade.
Angela Garcia, executive director of Global Links, said the organization is installing 10,000 sq. ft. of paneling over the next week on its reflective white roof. The panels have an estimated life of 25 years and could generate 80-85 percent of the nonprofit's energy.
"Not only the light coming down generates energy, but also the reflection off of our roof generates additional energy," Garcia said. "If we can generate clean energy, reduce the amount of dollars we put toward energy costs overall, that means we can deliver more to our mission."
Michael Carnahan, general manager of Scalo Solar Solutions, said despite the dreary winter weather, solar panels can be regulated to store energy from the sunny summertime throughout the cloudy seasons.
According to a 2017-2019 statewide planning project Pennsylvania land is a "reasonable price, available for grid scale solar development, and does not present the types of challenges faced by land constricted states." It also mentions the decreasing cost of adopting solar power for businesses and residential areas, and the benefit of economic growth due to construction of renewable energy facilities.
