By going solar, companies of all sizes will reduce their dependence on grid-sourced electricity. Even at wholesale rates, energy from the grid can be pricey; solar energy, by contrast, is freely available - and companies can reduce their energy bills almost immediately by entering into power purchase agreements with solar developers.
They can also install and operate their own solar arrays, if doing so makes more economic sense.
What's often overlooked in the discussion of solar power, though, is the non-economic value that solar brings to the table. When a company turns to solar (or wind) power, it will not only save money but establish itself as an eco-friendly brand. For a growing number of consumers, that's important: Those who adopt green lifestyles want to support companies that share their values.
Many companies tout their green credentials on their packaging or in their marketing materials. And firms like Clean Currents, which operates in the Mid-Atlantic, help provide businesses with renewable power and offer advice to those businesses on marketing their eco-friendly choices.
Consumers are learning more about companies' practices, as well, thanks to sites like GoodGuide. GoodGuide aggregates data on corporations' social responsibility efforts and scores them on a 1-to-10 scale, giving consumers in-depth information about how they operate.
Corporate relationship-building is also increasingly dependent on companies' environmental credentials. In the future, it's likely that more corporations will take Wal-Mart Stores' lead and pressure suppliers to make their operations greener.
And every year, more companies are conducting assessments of their carbon footprint. Not only does this help endear them to eco-conscious corporate partners, it can present valuable data about their supply chains and help them reduce waste in their operations.
Companies are laser-focused on costs, and the decision to adopt solar power may seem like a weighty one. After all, a solar array large enough to power corporate offices or a production facility can easily have a seven-figure price tag. But PPAs are available to companies that want to avoid spending money upfront - and, for almost every company, going solar can provide nonmonetary, as well as tangible, dividends.
