Army goes solar at Minnesota training site

Yes, the Occupy movement has officially spread to the solar power movement, as it rightfully should. Big business has too much control over our energy policy, our energy habits, our climate, and our communities. It is stalling governmental clean energy action. However, everyone can vote with their money and we can “democratize” our electricity system more by installing solar power on our roofs (if we have them).

Community Solar Day, November 20, is the day you could join the movement to get a large portion of our electricity from rooftop solar power.

And, remember, the return on investment (ROI) from putting solar on your roof probably creams the ROI of keeping your money in a savings account or investing it on the stock market.

“As the protesters leading the Occupy Wall Street movement decry the big banks that crashed the economy, robo-foreclose people’s homes and continue to finance mega fossil fuel projects like the Tar Sands, community solar represents one path forward: clean energy created for and by the people,” the folks at Solar Mosaic on its Solar Day page.

“Community solar projects are taking the first steps toward a future where people can move their money out of low-yield savings accounts and into safe and high-yield solar investments that lower carbon emissions and create green jobs and local prosperity.”

Where Will You Be on Community Solar Day?

Solar Mosaic has a map where you can sign up and show that you are going solar on November 20 (also available at meetup.com). You can also add a picture or more of your solar installation to help inspire others.

Activist group Power Shift (as well as numerous others) is also pushing involvement in the day. Lisa Curtis of Power Shift writes:

“Since most of us agree that we support solar to create jobs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels–why not bring those benefits to our own communities by starting a community solar project? On November 20th, I plan to hold a potluck at my church where quite a few church members have expressed interest in going solar. On November 20th, where will you occupy???”

So, will you join in?

Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/13JtD)

Visit us on the web at www.allenergysolar.com

A nationwide poll conducted by Kelton Research showed that just shy of 9 out of 10 Americans (89 percent) think it’s important for the United States to develop and use solar energy. Breaking the results out along voting lines, 80 percent of Republicans, 90 percent of Independents and 94 percent of Democrats agreed with the above. This is the fourth straight year Kelton’s survey results showed nearly 90% of Americans support developing solar energy.Results also showed that Americans support federal incentives to do so. More than eight of ten (82 percent) support federal tax credits and grants for the solar industry, just like those that continue to benefit companies in the all too well established oil & gas and coal industries. Seventy-one percent of Republicans, 82 percent of Independents and 87 percent of Democrats responding to the poll agreed.Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they would choose to financially support solar energy over other energy sources such as natural gas (21 percent), wind (12 percent), nuclear (nine percent), and coal (three percent). Solar energy is more than twice as popular as any other energy source among Independents – 43 percent vs. 20 percent for natural gas.

Moreover, support for solar energy remains strong despite all the recent media and Congressional attention devoted to the bankruptcy of Solyndra, Kelton found.

Eight out of ten (82 percent) of Americans think it’s important for the federal government to support US solar manufacturing, and a majority of Independent voters (51 percent) think it’s “extremely important.”

The American economy has evolved into one built on consumption, and Kelton found that 51 percent of Americans would be more likely to purchase a product if they knew that it was made using solar power. At 61 percent, consumers in the key 18-44 year old age group were even more likely to do so.

A Win-Win Situation

Solar leasing programs are making big strides in educating consumers and making it more affordable to buy solar power, but cost, along with consumer education, remain the biggest hurdles. Forty-eight percent of Americans cited costs as their biggest concern with purchasing a solar energy system despite the cost of solar panels dropping 30 percent since the beginning of 2010 and the introduction of solar leasing programs.

“In this tough economy, Americans want to see solutions coming from Washington,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “For members of Congress trying to find ways to create jobs, solar is a win-win.

“Thanks in part to proven policy successes like the 1603 Treasury Program, the solar industry has doubled its workforce in the last two years and now employs more than 100,000 Americans at 5,000 businesses spanning every state. And solar enjoys overwhelming support across all political affiliations – Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

“It’s clear that solar has the strong support of the American people. Now it needs the support of U.S. policymakers in extending job-creating policies like the 1603 program to make sure solar continues to work for America.”

So What’s Up in Washington, D.C.?

Kelton’s poll results, which are included in the 2011 SCHOTT Solar Barometer released yesterday, clearly indicate the breadth and strength of support for developing solar power across the US populace.

So what’s up with the elected leaders of our national government in Congress? Why is it that opposition to instituting longer lasting solar industry support and incentives, such as investment and production tax credits and the Treasury 1603 program, continues in the face of such broad public support?

The answers aren’t pretty, particularly as to its reflection on state of the American democratic republic. They’re a cause for ever more widespread cynicism, which has been defined as ‘spiritual death.’ A direct, causal link between the answers and the growing “Occupy,” or “The Other 99%” movement may also be inferred.

They’re yet another sign that our elected representatives are bought and paid for by corporate and external organizational and institutional interests.

We elect them based on their campaign promises, records and backgrounds, but it’s clear that US elected representatives, once ensconced in their offices and in Washington D.C., don’t believe it’s necessary to respond to the will of the broad public even when it is so unified. Other influences apparently prompt them to act otherwise.

Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/13HEn)

Check us out on the web at www.allenergysolar.com