Recently, I read Senator Bernie Sanders’ blog entitled It’s Time for a Solar Revolution. He writes about how he and 10 of his colleagues (Senators Whitehouse, Cardin, Gillibrand, Merkley, Lautenberg, Leahy, Boxer, Menendez, Specter, and Harkin) are introducing the Ten Million Solar Roofs Act. The bill calls for 10 million new solar rooftop systems and 200,000 new solar water heating systems over the next 10 years. The idea is a knock-off of the “million roofs” program in California. Essentially the plan is to create 30,000 megawatts of solar power in ten years by offering consumer rebates for the purchase and installation of solar systems. So far the California program is on track to create 3,000 megawatts of solar power by 2016. What makes Senator Bernie’s bill different is that it is a Federal bill that supplements and complements state and local solar efforts. The idea is a good one, using a distributive approach, however the bill is but a small step in creating a full-scale solar revolution, but it is certainly an important one.
Jeff Wolfe groSolar CEO
Ten million roofs is certainly a great start for a solar revolution, but it reflects limited thinking. My friend Jeff Wolfe, the founder of groSolar, made a presentation over a year ago entitled Thinking as Big as Oil. Jeff pointed out that as strong as growth has been for the solar industry, the entire industry’s revenues equal less than two days of ExxonMobil’s revenues. We have a long way to go to be as “Big as Oil.” Jeff gave several examples of where the solar industry was, perhaps, limiting itself in its goals and vision. And then he made a statement that should resonate with every member of the solar tribe: “I, for one, am not in this game to play; I’m in it to win ‐‐ to accomplish our mission for our company, for our country, and for our planet.”
Rhone Resch SEIA CEO
Thinking as Big as Oil is certainly worthy of being called a Solar Revolution, but a revolution needs many, many passionate people with a shared conviction. Al Gore likes to talk about political will being the only thing missing, but more importantly that political will is a renewable resource. Unfortunately, the obstacles in this arena are as big as Oil. Obstacles mean opportunities. These obstacle/opportunities lie in the areas of technology, politics and basic human behavior and create exciting potential for history-changing achievements. The next step in building and advancing our movement, it seems to me is about increasing the general awareness. The ARRA program certainly is helping. Rhone Resch’s declaration of a Solar Bill of Rights is another step.
There a few trail-blazing non-profit organization for us to get behind and support. I love Vote Solar. Their mission is “to bring solar energy into the mainstream.” I couldn’t have said it better myself and their every single action is doing exactly that. Vote Solar works at the state, federal and local level to implement programs and policies that allow strong solar markets to grow — working to remove serious regulatory roadblocks impeding solar adoption — and pave the way for a transition to a renewable energy economy. SolarTech is a PV industry consortium focused on creating a Solar Center of Excellence in the Silicon Valley. Their goal is to identify and resolve the inefficiencies inherent in the delivery of solar PV systems. This last January Solartech hosted a Solar Leadership Summit to Address Solutions that Cut Procedural Red Tape by 75% and Reduce Costs for Solar Customers and followed that up by announcing the launch of a new, free resource for solar professionals called SolarHub. In Solar Nation’s own words, Solar Nation “is the place where solar citizens live “ and “where citizens rally and convince their leaders to make America a true solar power.” There are probably many more similar organizations that part of the solar revolution. If you know of some, please let us know in an email: info@whole-solar.com. And if you are not familiar with Vote Solar, Solartech and Solar Nation, please check them out and get involved.
A solar revolution starts with you and me. As I heard Buckminster Fuller say, “each one reach one; each one teach one.” To quote Vote Solar’s website: “The clock is ticking. Join the Team” or, perhaps a paraphrase is in order — Join the Solar Revolution.
Tags: ARRA, Buckminster Fuller, clean energy and climate legislation, groSolar, Jeff Wolfe, Rhone Resch, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Boxer, Sen. Cardin, Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Harkin, Sen. Lautenberg, Sen. Leahy, Sen. Menendez, Sen. Merkley, Sen. Specter, Sen. Whitehouse, solar, solar bill of rights, Solar Nation, solar power, SolarHub, Solartech, Ten Million Solar Roofs Act, Vote Solar
Uncategorized | admin March 16, 2010 | 
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Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of one of the most inspiring collective human achievements in history. It’s etched in our memories or, if we weren’t born yet, we all know the famous words behind this achievement: “Tranquility Base. The Eagle has landed,” and “That’s one small step for man…one giant leap for mankind.” More importantly, less than 10 years earlier, a President incredibly challenged our nation “to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.” At the time he uttered those words, there were so many reasons that it couldn’t be done. It was impossible, but yet he made the declaration, not because it would be easy, but because it was a challenge.
And on the 40th anniversary of the accomplishment of this impossible feat, the Apollo 11 astronauts were paraded in front of the press. They were guests at the Oval Office, where President Obama praised NASA, fortunately, without getting into specifics about future plans, while at Cape Canaveral these astronauts and their colleagues complained that there should be more support and commitment to go to Mars.
Eugene Cernan, the last astronaut on the moon in 1972, told a news conference at NASA headquarters that the nation could “recapture the kind of spirit” that infused the risk-taking, cutting-edge Apollo program. “We had to accept challenges, we had to be bold, we had to take risks, we had to make sacrifices,” Cernan said.
The world’s priorities today are very different from what they were in the ’60’s, but the spirit and example set by NASA and the 30 or so astronauts like Cernan is exactly what the solar tribe should embrace today. There have been numerous blogs comparing the challenge of putting a man on the moon in the ’60’s to that of bringing our climate under control today. There have also been members of the solar tribe taking action to bring this analogy into the publics conscience. In the blog entry below this one, I have posted a letter from RePower America which plays to the same line of thinking.
The point is: we’ve done this before. Then it was “man on the moon in 10 years.” Today it’s “Reduce CO2 dramatically in 10 years.” This may not be a universally popular idea at the moment. It may not even seem possible to some. But neither was “putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade” in 1961. And for those of us who remember living through that decade, it wasn’t like everybody was a part of the daily effort. There was political will and out of that came lots of jobs and technological breakthroughs that not only made it possible for Armstrong to step onto to the lunar surface that summer of ‘69, but also changed the way a generation lived, improving the quality of life.
Together, we stand with a passion toward something even more important than “man on the moon.” Are we just going to read about it and think about and take no action? What are we waiting for? What have we got to lose? Let’s celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 by committing to ourselves and each other to renew the same political will that made that history possible. Political will is a renewable resource and it’s up to each one of us to bring it forth.
Posted by solaroy at
3:10 PM
Tags: ACES, American Clean Energy and Security Act, Apollo 11, clean energy act, clean energy and climate legislation, green, NASA, Neil Armstrong, solar, solar tribe
Uncategorized | admin July 21, 2009 | Comments (0)
In an earlier blog post, I shared about
California AB560 a net metering bill being considered by the California state senate. The
bill moved through the California Senate Energy Committee 9-1 yesterday, but still has a couple of critical votes to clear. This is an important bill for at least three reasons that I can think of. First, its passage will further open up the solar residential and commercial market. Second, its passage is essential in order for another bill,
AB920 (a bill that is about creating fairness within California’s solar market and about spurring ever greater consumer interest in investing in solar power bringing with it important environmental and economic benefits to the state) to pass, bringing a little more logic and sanity to solar energy policy. Finally, I believe that the nation looks to California as a leader in energy and climate control legislation.
A national net metering policy would make a lot of sense. It sets up the classic debate about Federal government versus state’s rights, but the quality of the environment is clearly a national, if not global issue that begs for a national net metering policy. In addition, any energy policy that moves us away from fossil fuel energy is really a national security issue. There are many issues, where I argue passionately for state’s and local community rights and against big government, but this is not one of them.
The net metering issue is really quite simple: just think of being able to turn your electricity meter backwards when your solar panels generate power. Why should anyone be afraid of this? Clean energy channeled into the grid, thereby reducing the demand for energy that comes from other sources. We’re worried that we’ll convert to solar too fast? Now wouldn’t that be a nice problem to have?
A national net metering policy would perhaps have the effect of further accelerating the development of a national (intra-national) and international smart grid. Admittedly, this will take time, but in theory a global smart grid will solve one of the largest problems facing the industry: wasted energy…energy generated but not used. Until we develop advanced energy storage technologies or a global smart grid, this will remain a large cost item to the utility industry.
Clearly there are many issues facing us as we all work to make solar power mainstream. National net metering is one of the vital issues. It is important that we keep talking and blogging about it. Let’s join together and keep the drums pounding.
Posted by solaroy at
11:11 AM 0 comments
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Tags: AB560, AB920, Al Gore, American Clean Energy and Security Act, California State Senate, clean energy and climate legislation, green, net metering, solar, solar power, Vote Solar Initiative
Uncategorized | admin July 8, 2009 | Comments (0)
It seems like things have been so busy lately, running the business, networking and rallying the solar tribe to go into action, that I have not had time to write the next blog. I want to pass along the letter I received today from Al Gore:
Dear Roy,
This Independence Day, we have a lot to celebrate — including a major victory for our planet.
The historic vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act in the House of Representatives last Friday moves this bill to the Senate. Now, we must continue to build momentum and work for its passage.
Just as our founders struggled to achieve our nation’s independence, we must encourage our leaders to stand up to the entrenched special interests in another struggle of great historical importance — the fight for our energy independence.
Tell Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell that you support bold action on clean energy legislation. This July 4th, declare your energy independence and demand that they work to do the same in the Senate.
Declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell.
Today, our nation lives under the oppressive thumb of foreign oil, dirty energy and a climate crisis that could change life as we know it.
We are held hostage to volatile gas prices, as Americans send hundreds of billions of dollars overseas each year. This dependence on foreign oil leaves our nation vulnerable to unstable and hostile regimes, burdening our military and their families.
And our reliance on dirty energy continues to cost us — average annual household energy spending increased approximately $1,000 between 2001 and 2007.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and clean energy is the path we need. Add your voice and declare your energy independence now:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration
Repowering America with clean energy can revitalize our economy by creating millions of clean energy jobs, stabilizing energy costs, strengthening our national security and addressing the climate crisis.
Show our Senate leaders that we mean business: stand together with us and demonstrate your support for change.
Our founders fought to live in a free nation — and they succeeded. The clean, prosperous and energy independent America we seek now and for future generations is closer than ever, but this legislation must succeed in the Senate.
That’s why I’m asking you to declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell today:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration
Thanks for all you do,
Al Gore
As soon as I post this, I’m going to follow the links to declare my energy independence. What are you waiting for? Join me by taking action at RepowerAmerica.org
Posted by solaroy at
7:02 PM 0 comments
