Letter writer encourages Tippecanoe officials to embrace solar energy

As the war in Iran rages on, ravaging some of the most important oil infrastructure in the world, we have found ourselves in the midst of a global energy crisis.

In just the past month, the war has quickly led to a global oil shortage that is spiking the cost of energy every single day. Not only is our reliance on petroleum a burden on our environment, but it is now becoming a burden on our economy.

For Tippecanoe County to maintain a resilient and growth-oriented economy, it is imperative that we consider how we power our homes, businesses, and transportation in the years to come. Therefore, the APC and other local leaders in Tippecanoe County should prioritize the well-being of the entire community by implementing a deployable solar ordinance.

And although this ordinance is clearly a controversial topic in the community, I encourage them not to bend to the whims of a small population of angry residents who resist change, even if their voices are loud.

The current administration in Washington has firmly stood against clean energy developments like solar fields and is taking action to ensure our nation’s dependence on coal and oil continues. However, the global energy market is shifting away from coal and oil and toward renewables — regardless of the United States’ stance on renewables between 2025 and 2029.

The decision to continue to invest in finite energy sources and turn away from renewable energy development is not just harmful for our natural environment, but it is a poor long-term economic decision.

Limiting solar field development will put Hoosiers at a disadvantage as the global energy market shifts toward renewables in the coming decades, and it is the responsibility of local leadership to ensure that Tippecanoe County is set up for long-term economic success — even if it ruffles some feathers today.