Tuesday, September 21, 2010

DC Climate Plan-weak on solar

DC has just released its draft climate action plan. It is open for public comment until November 15th. The sections on solar are pretty thin. It would be great to collect your ideas on how to beef up the plan!


http://green.dc.gov/green/lib/green/pdfs/ClimateOfOpportunity_web.pdf

Let me know what you think! Will post more on this in the next few weeks!

Post here or email me at solarcoop@yahoo.com

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Solar Gardens in DC!

Last night at the Mayor's forum (Only Vince Grey showed up)--my apologies to those of you who expected both candidates to show up, I asked Vince Grey the following question--

The Mt Pleasant Solar Coop is pushing for affordable solar for every resident in Washington DC. We see it as a way to build great green jobs and business here in the District and a way to bring down our energy costs for the next 25 years. We are hoping to create a national model and forge a road to the clean energy economy.

A key next step is the creation of solar gardens—the idea is to pass a simple piece of legislation that would allow anyone in the City to own a grid tied solar panel—and get credit on their electric bill--even if the panel isn’t on their own roof! This would mean that anyone in DC could go solar, even if they lived in an apartment building or condo or public housing.

My question is: would you help us pass such legislation and support its implementation and What other ideas do you have to expand and support solar in DC?

Grey seemed open to the idea and asked to see a draft bill. Perhaps even more exciting was the number of people who have contacted me since to say--the want to help or tell me more.

Comments? Questions?

Sunday, September 5, 2010

DC Mayors Forum September 7th

Please join solar advocates from across DC for the DC Environmental Network's Mayoral Forum this coming September 7 @ 5:30 p.m. We are asking you to find time to participate, because both candidates have confirmed that they will attend.

Venue is Harriet's Restaurant (in the Harrington Hotel) at 436-11th Street, NW (11th Street, between Pennsylvania Avenue & E Street, NW, adjacent to METRO Center, Federal Triangle, Archives) and right on the S2, S4 Metrobus lines.

PLEASE REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND THE FORUM

Below is a link for the event:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6642/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1135378

Our organizing means Mt. Pleasant will be joined by sister Coops from the Capitol Hill (Ward 6), Georgetown (Ward 2), Petworth (Ward 4), Shepherd Park (Ward 4), Palisades (Ward 3) and Ward 8/East of the Anacostia River Coops -- so we want our solar members to be well-represented in the audience.

As solar energy producers and proponents of renewable energy, we want Mayor Fenty to know we are NOT HAPPY about his unsuccessful bid to gut the renewable energy program, his appointment of an inexperienced person to the critical three member Public Service Commission and his general lack of support for solar.

We want all the candidates to make strong specific commitments to do better on solar and to see the solar coops as a real political force. We want all the candidates to understand that the best way to develop GOOD green jobs in DC is by promoting solar.

Strength is in numbers. Please attend. Please be vocal about your support for solar and please ask a question about solar. Remember, we pay for the solar program through a surcharge on our electric bill! The mayor should not have the right to divert those funds to other uses!

Please Register to attend the event today. Invite your friends.

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