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Benefits Cost Design Reliability Modular Environmental Less Oil Reliance
Although great strides have been made in reducing costs in the last 20 years or so, electricity from PV is not yet cost-competitive with electricity from an established grid.
However, it really does not have to be! PV supplies electricity when and where energy is most limited and most expensive, making a valuable strategic contribution to our energy mix. Energy from PV does not simply replace some fraction of the generation; it displaces the right portion of the load. Once installed, PV systems can produce power continuously with little upkeep and minimal operating costs.
Consider these facts. Because PV cells use the energy from sunlight to produce electricity, the "fuel" is free. PV systems are usually placed close to where the electricity is used and usually require much shorter power distribution lines than those needed to bring power in from the utility grid. In addition, using PV eliminates the need for a transformer to "step down" the power from the utility line. Less wiring means lower costs, shorter construction times, and reduced permitting paperwork, particularly in urban areas. All these factors make PV systems cost-effective over their useful lives.
Low-maintenance, cost-effective PV systems are ideal for supplying power to remote communications stations, navigational buoys at sea, and homes more than a quarter mile from utility power lines. 
A PV system in Arlington, Virginia, feeds clean energy into the utility grid that supplies electricity to the Pentagon. As a distributed resource, PV puts the power supply at the point of use. The benefits of PV systems often far outweigh the cost because of their modularity, reliability, environmental benefits, and ability to augment traditional power sources during peak demand.
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