Policy

News on the solar power front likely to give a statewide boost to the installation of solar panels to generate electricity comes in from the Los Angeles Times today. Reporter, Margot Roosevelt, reports on the progressive new law in "California adopts innovative solar loan law."

Left-leaning Berkeley and right-leaning Palm Desert are unlikely bedfellows, but the two cities were twin forces behind California's innovative solar and energy efficiency financing law enacted Monday.

The law, sponsored by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D- Van Nuys), allows cities and counties to make low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses to install solar panels, high-efficiency air conditioners and other improvements to save energy. Participants can pay back the loans as part of their property taxes. If they move, the improvements and loan balance are transferred to the next owner.

The financing scheme, if adopted by cities, is likely to give a statewide boost to the installation of solar panels to generate electricity. Solar power systems can cost between $15,000 and $30,000–more than many homeowners can afford, although state rebates cover much of the cost. But with the loans, and the guarantee that the investment will not be lost when people sell their homes, the risk is dramatically reduced.

For the complete story, click here.

From MSNBC this week, "Solar power companies look abroad as sun sets on tax credits" written by Celia Lamb of the Sacramento Business Journal, looks at the solar industry focused on finishing projects by end of the year and looking to a last minute extension of the Federal Incentive Tax Credits.

Solar power companies are racing to finish projects and are looking to overseas markets as the deadline for federal solar-power tax credits draws closer.

When the tax credits expire Dec. 31, small solar power installation companies could be hit the hardest because they depend on new business in their local markets. But even large companies are scrambling to finish as many projects as they can this year.

“We’re horrified,” said Sue Kateley, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association. “I’ve stopped betting on it.”

But some industry executives are counting on the extension.

“We believe Congress will do the right thing and extend the tax credit,” said Phil Rettger, executive vice president of Hayward-based OptiSolar Inc., which is building a solar-panel manufacturing plant in McClellan Park. “There’s a history of waiting until the last minute and then extending the tax credit.”

For the full story, click here.

From today's Sacramento News & Review, reporter John Motsinger offers up an in-depth review of the upcoming November green energy proposition, "California ballot: Betting on Big Solar – Utilities and enviros team up against Proposition 7."

We all get it. The glaciers are melting. The sea is rising. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe. And no matter how many bike miles we log or how many fluorescent light bulbs we buy, conservation alone may not avert the most disastrous consequences of climate change.

Harnessing the near limitless power of the sun, wind, water and earth could help. But how do we do it? Who is going to pay for the solar panels and wind turbines? And how fast does it have to happen?

…Even representatives of the renewable industry are concerned that the initiative won’t treat all technologies fairly. Sue Kateley, executive director of California’s Solar Energy Industries Association based in Rio Vista, said the new standards are biased towards large-scale energy plants instead of distributed, rooftop solar.

NY Times Op-Ed columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, addressed the state of the economy this week, in his piece entitled "Anxious in America."

He begins here:

Just a few months ago, the consensus view was that Barack Obama would need to choose a hard-core national-security type as his vice presidential running mate to compensate for his lack of foreign policy experience and that John McCain would need a running mate who was young and sprightly to compensate for his age. Come August, though, I predict both men will be looking for a financial wizard as their running mates to help them steer America out of what could become a serious economic tailspin.

Within the broad review of the country's economic status is this quote pertaining to green energy:

I continue to be appalled at the gap between what is clearly going to be the next great global industry — renewable energy and clean power — and the inability of Congress and the administration to put in place the bold policies we need to ensure that America leads that industry.

For the entire article, click here: Anxious in America

In his column this past weekend, NY Times Op-Ed columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, wrote about the nation's energy policy in "Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave." Addressing green energy he said:

"…a president who hasn’t lifted a finger to broker passage of legislation that has been stuck in Congress for a year, which could actually impact America’s energy profile right now — unlike offshore oil that would take years to flow — and create good tech jobs to boot.

That bill is H.R. 6049 — “The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008,” which extends for another eight years the investment tax credit for installing solar energy and extends for one year the production tax credit for producing wind power and for three years the credits for geothermal, wave energy and other renewables.

These critical tax credits for renewables are set to expire at the end of this fiscal year and, if they do, it will mean thousands of jobs lost and billions of dollars of investments not made. “Already clean energy projects in the U.S. are being put on hold,” said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

People forget, wind and solar power are here, they work, they can go on your roof tomorrow. What they need now is a big U.S. market where lots of manufacturers have an incentive to install solar panels and wind turbines — because the more they do, the more these technologies would move down the learning curve, become cheaper and be able to compete directly with coal, oil and nuclear, without subsidies.

In his column this past weekend, NY Times Op-Ed columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, wrote about the nation's energy policy in "Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave." Addressing green energy he said:

"…a president who hasn’t lifted a finger to broker passage of legislation that has been stuck in Congress for a year, which could actually impact America’s energy profile right now — unlike offshore oil that would take years to flow — and create good tech jobs to boot.

That bill is H.R. 6049 — “The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008,” which extends for another eight years the investment tax credit for installing solar energy and extends for one year the production tax credit for producing wind power and for three years the credits for geothermal, wave energy and other renewables.

These critical tax credits for renewables are set to expire at the end of this fiscal year and, if they do, it will mean thousands of jobs lost and billions of dollars of investments not made. “Already clean energy projects in the U.S. are being put on hold,” said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

People forget, wind and solar power are here, they work, they can go on your roof tomorrow. What they need now is a big U.S. market where lots of manufacturers have an incentive to install solar panels and wind turbines — because the more they do, the more these technologies would move down the learning curve, become cheaper and be able to compete directly with coal, oil and nuclear, without subsidies.

How do the presidential candidates compare on our country's energy policy? The Wall Street Journal took an indepth look at the policies of McCain and Obama in its recent article, "In Energy Policy, McCain, Obama Differ on Role of Government" by Stephen Power.

Arizona Republican John McCain and Illinois Democrat Barack Obama say a lot of the same things about energy and environmental policy: Both want to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil and fight global warming. Both want binding caps on greenhouse-gas emissions. Both see a stepped-up role for nuclear power.

So does that mean that America will get the same energy strategy no matter which candidate wins? Not by a long shot.

Sen. McCain's and Sen. Obama's goals may sound similar, but the candidates would pursue drastically different paths to achieve them.

See the complete article, click here: Different Paths to Cleaner Energy.

The Washington Post just moments ago reported that the Senate failed again to extend vital Federal Tax Incentives for the green energy sector. Federal ITC measures will expire at the end of the year without further action.

Washington Post: By H. JOSEF HEBERT The Associated Press Tuesday, June 10, 2008; 12:42 PM:

Democrats failed to get Republican support for a proposal to extend tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy development, and for the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. The tax breaks have either expired or are scheduled to end this year.

The tax provisions were included in a broader $50 billion tax measure blocked by a GOP filibuster threat. A vote to take up the measure was 50-44, short of the 60 votes needed.

California Solar Energy Industries responded immediately. From their email:

Regrettably, on a vote of 50-44 the U.S.Senate failed to invoke cloture on HR 6049, the bill that proposes extension of the Federal tax credits for commercial and residential customers. This occurred about 15 minutes ago.
SEIA will undoubtedly be working hard on a strategy for achieving enactment of an extension – we'll keep you posted on the next steps and share information as it becomes available.

Word on the street is that the Senate could vote as early as today on the critically needed Federal Tax Incentives for the "green" energy sector.

Industry organizations have been rallying to insure constituents contact representatives to insure this industry saving legislature is put in place.

From Solar Nation yesterday afternoon:

More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
Republican senators may hold the keys to our solar future!

Now that both parties in Congress have allowed political wrangling of the pettiest kind to kill the climate change bill for this year, we might hope a sense of shame would drive them to pass that other bill that's been killed and resurrected many times already this year – the clean energy tax credit extension package.

For even as the torn-up pieces of the former bill were fluttering to the floor last week, Senate Majority Leader Reid filed a motion to restart debate on the tax credits bill(HR6049).What's different this time around? Well, this time the Senate really is 'open for business'. Senate Finance Committee chairman Baucus is canvassing Republican senators to find out their price: what they want to see in the bill in return for their support at roll-call time.

From VoteSolar.org Monday as well:

We are nearing the finish line, seriously this time. Our Senators will be voting early this week on H.R. 6049, which includes an eight year extension of the commercial solar ITC, and a six year extension of the residential ITC. This is likely our last chance this year for a long-term extension of this crucial tax credit.We know that many of you contacted your Senators just a few weeks ago during the "National Day of Action," but it is critical that they hear from you again right before the vote.

From Steve LoRusso, Vice President of Sales at HelioPower and a “green energy” veteran who has dedicated many years of his professional life to the solar power industry:

"In an era of corporate downsizing, countless jobs are being lost. If the Solar Investment Tax Credit that is due to expire at year end is not extended, as many as 116,000 jobs in the green energy industry will also be lost, along with up to $19 billion in lost investment. On the other hand, millions of new jobs could be created in the manufacture and installation of American Energy Independence. The labor-intensive nature of renewable energy technologies could create countless new jobs. Solar, wind, wave, ocean, thermal, aquaculture, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass are among the many new energy technologies we need to develop.

Energy helps determine the wealth of a nation today, in the form of petroleum resources, exploitation of human resources and the technology to produce and deliver this energy at a profit. There is little we can do in our modern world that doesn't consume energy in one form or another. As a nation we have come to realize that the foreign oil on which we depend comes at too great a price. Domestic oil reserves are only a short-term solution and the long-term cost of nuclear energy safely can't be avoided. We need new energy sources now. To become energy independent would diffuse the concentration of wealth and power in the Middle East, correcting an imbalance of power in our global economy.

American ingenuity has always risen to the occasion. Our resourcefulness will be our saving grace. The combination of America's industrial capability, our intellectual horsepower and our abundant human resource pool can create limitless power. But we need the support of our government to continue to subsidize this vital industry. We need your help to convince your Senators and Congressman to stop politicizing this issue and extend the Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit. Please help us to convince the Senate that the time to act is now. "

In a very few minutes you can use the Solar Nation website to add your voice to the chorus working to create energy independence for America.

Check to see how your local House representatives voted on H.R. 6049, Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008, at GovTrack.us.

Statement by Rhone Resch on House Passage of H.R. 6049 and upcoming Senate vote:

"For the Senate, the choice is now clear: they can either protect tax loopholes for privileged investment managers, or create tens of thousands of green-collar jobs in a troubled economy. Most Senators will find it very hard to turn their back on workers in their home state… Allowing the solar tax credit to expire is an enormous tax increase that will cost thousands of American jobs and billions in economic investment. Now is the time to act and secure our energy future."

Letter from Governor Schwarzenegger to Congressional Leadership,May 13, 2008:

"As Congress moves forward on legislation to extend tax credits, I must highlight three critical concerns for California. The extension of federal credits related to incentives for research and development, renewable energy and energy efficiency and a continuation of the 'patch' for the alternative minimum tax are hugely important to the health of the California economy."