Time
for the government to get serious about solar power?
Wednesday,
October 24, 2007
Isn't it
time for Congress to get serious about solar power?
Congress gives billions to oil companies, to farmers and
ethanol producers, why not for solar power?
Is solar power perfect?
Of course not, but its ability to distribute energy alone
is worth the cost of investment in this age of terrorism,
fires, and electric grid instability. More important,
however, solar energy could revolutionize home energy,
even if it takes 20 years.
Andalay solar
technology, for example, has already decreased the
cost of rooftop labor by 50 percent, and the the next
cost-saving technology breakthrough is always just around
the corner. Ultimately, we are barely tapping into the
potential of solar technology, therefore, the government
can play a critical role in developing this technology.
Solar technology will
be cost-effective one day, even without subsidies from the
U.S. Congress; however, with subsidies the government can
shine the light on cheap, clean and green energy much
sooner.
"Both the House and Senate are considering bills that
would provide incentives that would jumpstart demand for
rooftop solar power systems. If the 30% residential tax
credit were passed without the current $2,000 cap, this
new legislation would effectively halve the payback period
for many homeowners," claimed Barry Cinnamon, CEO of
Akeena Solar and president of the California Solar Energy
Industry Association on Tuesday.
“There’s nothing that our lawmakers could do that
would get us out of this energy and environmental mess
faster than encouraging the installation of rooftop
solar,” Cinnamon said. “Governments all over the world
– including Japan, Germany and Spain -- have already
figured this out.”
Isn't it time for Congress to stop playing partisan
politics, to stop the blame-game, and to start passing
legislation that provides a clean and green future for
Americans, and the world, in which to believe.
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