When Paul Dale decided to expand his rooftop solar system in Massachusetts three years ago, he thought it would be a breeze. He already had 22 panels. The addition of eight panels and battery storage would lower his family’s utility bill and boost their energy independence. Dale signed a contract with solar installer Solaris Renewables in January 2023.

Americans’ energy bills are rising at rates not seen in decades, with some community advocacy groups reporting that electricity bills have shot up by an average of 30 percent since 2021. As the Trump administration attempts to keep people hooked on fossil fuels, local leaders are approving multidecade contracts with oil, gas, and even coal companies. These de facto energy monopolies are expected to cost ratepayers millions.

Renewable energy, especially solar, has the potential to reduce these costs while allowing consumers to cut ties with fossil fuels—a crucial step for climate action. An analysis by the Acadia Center, a clean energy nonprofit, found that during a heat wave that engulfed New England last summer, residential solar saved ratepayers as much as $19 million on one particularly hot day by reducing the grid operator’s need to purchase expensive energy from oil and gas providers to meet peak demand.

To read the full article from Sierra Club, click here.