Last Updated on May 27, 2025 by Anne Brock
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy production with optional storage remains the most responsive, secure and lowest-cost choice to meet increasing energy needs in the United States. Even while advanced nuclear technology shows promise of meeting government and business goals in future years, solar is the viable solution available now for a range of applications. Small-scale and mid-scale distributed solar offers the most responsible options for use of rooftops and marginalized land while also adding economic development with or without the help of federal solar and storage energy credits.
“Energy is a key strategic investment for businesses these days,” said Solar Alliance CEO & Board Chair Brian Timmons. “The influx of data centers, artificial intelligence computing needs and increased electrification are all putting stress on price and supply. At Solar Alliance, we’re seeing businesses that want to take charge of their own energy supply at a predictable cost right now.”
Responsiveness
Proven, commercially available PV and energy storage technology is available for projects that can be designed, permitted and implemented in less than a year. Even large utility-scale projects, given adequate resources, are mostly limited timewise by bureaucratic and permitting requirements. As evidence, the vast majority of new generating capacity added to the grid in 2024 was the result of solar and solar plus storage investments.
Promising, and even permitted advanced nuclear technologies are on tracks that are several years long. Statistica reports that nuclear reactors online globally in 2023 had a median construction time of nearly eleven years. As an example, the Holtec project for two small modular reactors began applications with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission around 2014, equating to more than a 15-year process for potentially building two SMRs in Michigan at the existing Palisades site by 2030.
Any sort of nuclear energy production is known to historically include security risks. Professor Sharon Squassoni of George Washington University released a report in 2024 reminding of risks from nuclear proliferation to terrorism and dependence on foreign suppliers. “This range of national security risks, these are not new, but trends in small modular reactors may make them worse,” said Squassoni. With macro-security issues, site security concerns being then combined with “Not-In-My-Backyard” sentiment, it is unlikely that permitting and approval timelines will improve.
While a promising and necessary step toward meeting future energy challenges, nuclear power is currently unable to match the responsiveness of solar and solar plus storage at the utility or commercial scale.
Cleanest
Solar demonstrates a benchmark for clean, renewable energy from an abundance of sunlight. At night, when the sun is not producing light for PV energy production, commercially available batteries offer excess stored electricity for use. Commercially available software allows for 24/7 monitoring and security of these systems on a small or large scale.
The distinct advantage of solar is in the no-cost fuel source from the sun. Market conditions, sanctions and conflict do not affect the cost of the fuel needed to run a solar PV system. There is no effort required to extract, refine or transport its fuel. And the minimal operating costs are in stark contrast to the risk exposure in nuclear operations, and even in oil and gas exploration and production. As for equipment at end of use, recycling is evolving to address this for the PV industry.
Nuclear offers promise of no carbon emissions and is often classified as a clean energy source. Yet, spent nuclear fuel and how to safely dispose of it remains a part of even the most advanced nuclear production technologies. In a world where some societies still factor human safety into energy decisions, we see that only the two countries of Russia and China have active SMRs for nuclear production at this time.
Lowest-Cost
Case after case shows lowest-cost energy production with solar PV. Module prices had been declining in the years prior to 2020. The US Energy Information Administration projects in its outlook for 2028 that the levelized cost of energy for advanced nuclear projects is three times that of new solar project costs. It projects nuclear around seven cents per kilowatt-hour versus as low as two cents for solar PV.
Distributed Resource
Nuclear, just like coal, provides energy on a grid-scale distribution system. Solar, on the other hand, can be easily constructed for private, commercial use behind the electric meter. This allows for a certain amount of energy independence, especially when paired with on-site energy storage along with the PV system. Given inherent uncertainty in markets and the changing technology landscape, decentralized power production offers price stability and security from volatility.
Stewardship
Stewardship in solar planning can include using existing commercial rooftop space, carports over existing parking lots, and marginalized land unsuitable for other uses. Solar Alliance implemented a Community Solar project for Knoxville Utilities Board in cooperation with the City of Knoxville that placed a one-megawatt system on an industrial brownfield. Solar Alliance also advises use of structurally sound rooftop spaces when those are already available, in place of taking up land with another highest and best use.
Economic Development
The Solar Energy Industries Association boasts support of more than 280,000 solar jobs, and federal incentives for clean energy create opportunities for businesses to cut overhead costs with their own behind-the-meter energy production.
“Solar and storage are ready tools our clients use to impact their bottom line while running a business,” said US General Manager Jon Hamilton of Solar Alliance. “Businesses see these options as on-site clean energy choices to implement this year or next that add value and de-risk many of their concerns around energy and its cost.”
Solar Alliance Southeast and its parent company, Solar Alliance Energy, Inc. signed along with SEIA and more than 1,850 energy companies a letter to Congress urging the solar and storage tax credits remain in any future tax packages.
You can learn more about Solar Alliance and its projects at SolarAlliance.com.