T-Mobile USA has brought the first solar powered cell tower to the US in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. The tower is composed of 12 solar panels that provide enough energy to take the tower off-grid and even give some energy back.

Research indicates that green energy will power up to 4.5% of towers by 2014. Aside from clean, renewable energy, the solar powered towers mean that cell towers can be brought to areas without electric grids and continuing power during grid failures.

Be sure to read more about the future of cell towers at TreeHugger.com and to learn more about bringing renewable energy to your town.