For more than a decade, the Climate + Energy Project has worked to reduce carbon emissions. We stand behind our commitment to Kansans to drive practical solutions for an equitable transition to a clean energy future. It is our mission — and there’s no time to waste.

That’s why we must look at the benefits of utility-scale solar and the opportunities it affords if we’re going to take seriously our call for a clean energy economy.

Utility-scale renewable energy generation is not a new concept in Kansas. We established our state as a leader in the transition through significant developments in wind power beginning as early 2009. Today we have almost 8,000 MW of our electricity generated by wind power, representing nearly half of our state’s power makeup. Further, this development has provided millions of dollars to local economies through project construction, payments to local governments and ongoing jobs paying livable wages.

When community leaders gather to discuss growth plans, diversifying their local economy and preparing for the future, the outcomes from wind projects meet all the metrics local leaders want for their communities.

Those same outcomes are possible with solar. The difference is that solar projects will be located in areas that aren’t as rural and remote as some of the Western Kansas areas where we see many wind farms. But that shouldn’t be a deterrent to embracing the promise of solar and true environmentalists and those seeking a clean energy economy should be the first to champion solar developments in this region.

We recognize that siting infrastructure projects in today’s America is increasingly difficult. Planning commissions, city councils and community leaders are too often bombarded by a vocal minority armed with internet facts that simply don’t reflect the real science. We cannot let misinformation torpedo this region’s ability to contribute to a major renewable energy investment. Failure to site utility-scale solar projects will lead to continued reliance on fossil fuels to power our homes and businesses.

It is not possible to transition from coal-fired energy production if there’s not utility-scale energy generation to replace it. That’s why the work of the Douglas County Planning Commission regarding the proposed solar farm in Douglas County is so critical. If we’re serious about clean energy investments, now is the time to champion the proposed solar project.

As a proud environmentalist and leader of an organization that for years has been on the front lines of advocating for responsible public policy to reduce emissions and ensure the planet’s sustainability long after we’re gone, I’m proud to support investments across the state in utility-scale solar. It’s the next logical step in a transition to a renewable energy economy.

In a state with more sunny days than the state of Florida, we should embrace every opportunity to capitalize on our sunshine. I urge Douglas County residents to reach out to local policymakers and ask them to embrace this opportunity to showcase the power of utility-scale solar and its benefits for the community good.

— Dorothy Barnett is the executive director of the Climate + Energy Project.