Advocating for the use of solar energy isn't really a part of any official governing action taken by the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners. But the board of commissioners does encourage local residents to look into solar energy as a way to improve their quality of life.

Township commissioner Jeremy Zimmerman, on the other hand, is a proponent of solar energy.

"When any of us (commissioners) speak, we're speaking for ourselves," said Zimmerman. "As a township, if it makes sense for residents to get solar, we encourage it. As a township, we definitely support it. We definitely encourage homeowners to look into it. At the end of the day, it's about choosing what's right for you. (I) definitely (support) it; that's definitely true."

Not unlike surrounding communities - and the rest of society as a whole - solar energy plays a bit of an ambiguous role in Manheim Township. Some residents have tried it - and some of them like it - and some residents haven't tried it, but almost every resident is curious about its positives and negatives.

"There are a lot of advantages, but the biggest one is it cuts out the middleman," said Zimmerman, who's a member of the Manheim Township sustainability advisory committee. "When we have solar panels, we can put it directly on the building using the energy. When we're paying our electric bills, so much of what we're paying is transmission fees. Solar energy can save folks money and save communities money. It's more efficient. It's more resilient and better for the environment. Solar is important in decreasing our carbon footprint.

"The biggest flaw is that when night comes you can't generate power anymore," continued Zimmerman. "Usually, the way to integrate it is to have a power system with it. The other big flaw is space. There are legitimate concerns about land use. Putting solar on farmland can be controversial."

Building permits are required to install solar panels on homes in Manheim Township. Last year, 58 permits for solar panels were issued in Manheim Township, one more than the previous year, while in 2023, 85 permits for solar panels were granted.

Manheim Township is home to more than 44,000 residents.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, about 9% of homes in the United States have solar panels.

"I can't speak for everyone, but I feel like people today understand the basics of solar," said Zimmerman. "I'm not sure they know how what we have today is different than it used to be. Economically, the best time to get solar is when you're replacing a roof or windows, except with new builds. I see it less as an environmental issue than an economic issue or an investment in property. In suburban areas like Manheim Township, it's an investment in property.

"Most people in Manheim Township would save their entire electric bills," Zimmerman added. "But there are a lot of upfront costs. It really depends on what people are looking for. If they're genuinely interested, I would suggest they get a lot of different quotes from a lot of different sources. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. People shouldn't feel bad if they go down the solar journey and stop if it isn't feasible to go through with it."

Solar energy harnesses the power of the sun by converting light into energy through the use of panels. The concept of solar energy was introduced to mainstream consumers in the 1960s, but, for a variety of reasons, this alternate form of energy has never really exploded.

"There has definitely been an evolution of solar energy, in both how we do it and the economics of it," said Zimmerman. "We're seeing the cost of solar decrease significantly compared to other energy sources. Solar's just gotten much cheaper. It still costs money to put panels on, but it's more than a luxury."

For additional information, go to http://www.manheimtownship.org.