Tuesday, August 13, 2002

"Stealth Attack On Solar" QUOTE OF THE DAY "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each one of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation." - - Robert F. Kennedy RHINO HERE: On November 6, 2001, San Francisco voters approved a landmark $100 million bond initiative that pays for solar panels, energy efficiency and wind turbines for public facilities. The measure pays for itself entirely from energy savings at no cost to taxpayers. With this model, San Francisco pioneered a path for funding the nation's transition to renewable energy. The mechanics are simple. The bond pays for solar panels, wind turbines and energy efficiency measures for public buildings. The money that would have gone to buy electricity from power plants instead goes to pay down the bond. I don't understand why anyone would want to fight against something that makes so much sense. Yet, the letter below, signed by some usual suspects; Bonnie Raitt, Robert Redford, Graham Nash & David Crosby, describes a stealth attack by utility companies on an upcoming solar tax credit bill. If you're up for a few quick phone calls, the letter gives the basic info, names & numbers. Tell a friend about this weblog, or if you know someone who'd like to join the Rhino's News Blog mailing list, drop a line to rhino@kifaru.com. 9:39:19 AM    comment

DON'T LET THE UTILITIES TURN OUT THE LIGHTS ON SOLAR ENERGY Dear Friend: As people who've been active in the environmental movement for a long time, we'd like to tell you about a critical vote the California legislature is about to take that will impact the future of solar energy in America. Last year, California passed a law, referred to as net metering, that lets large solar energy systems on factories, schools, offices and other big buildings receive credit for the electricity they give back to the electric grid. It has been a huge success, sparking a 1000% increase in the number of large solar energy systems in just one year and creating a model for the country. AB 58 by Assemblyman Fred Keeley (D - Boulder Creek) would extend this law past the end of this year, when it expires. But California's three big utilities - PG&E, Edison, and Sempra - have launched a stealth campaign to undermine it. They have amended the bill in a way that cuts in half the credit given for solar electricity. If these utilities get their way, many people who would otherwise like to install solar panels will no longer be able to afford to. And California's solar power market, the most vibrant in the nation, will be devastated, with grave consequences for the environment. There is simply too much at stake for us to lose this fight. Nuclear power plants leave us radioactive waste that will last for thousands of years. Emissions from power plants that run off coal, oil and gas pollute the air we breathe and are the leading contributor to global warming. The best way to say no to these environmentally harmful sources is to say yes to clean alternatives like solar energy. The good news is that the price of solar energy has been falling as more people buy it - the cost drops by about 20% every time demand doubles. But since two thirds of America's market for solar panels is in California, our progress will be brought to a standstill if the utilities succeed. Companies that profit from pollution should not call the shots, especially when there is so much on the line. Please join us in speaking out today. The California Legislature takes up AB 58 the week of Monday Aug. 12. There are two things you can do. First, you can join us in immediately contacting these key elected officials and letting them know that you support strong net metering laws. Tell them this is the time to give more incentives to solar energy, not fewer. Governor Gray Davis (916) 445-2841 Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fred Keeley (916) 319-2027 Assemblymember Roderick Wright (916) 319-2048 State Senator Debra Bowen (916) 445-5953 State Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (916) 445-1412 Speaker of the Assembly Herb Wesson (916) 319-2147 You can email them directly by going to: http://www.votesolar.org Second, send this email along to family, friends, and colleagues so they too can send a message to decision makers. Together, we can help California and the rest of the nation plug into the sun. Thank you, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Redford, Graham Nash & David Crosby Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law ( http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html ). All copyrights belong to original publisher. "RHINO'S NEWS BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. Feedback is encouraged and can be emailed to him at: rhino@kifaru.com RHINO'S WEB SITES: http://radio.weblogs.com/0103207 (RHINO'S NEWS WEBLOG - PRESENT & PAST) http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) 9:30:35 AM    comment

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