Adam Browning, Vote Solar Initiative

Adam Browning is the cofounder and director of operations for Vote Solar Initiative, a nonprofit organization working to jump-start the transition to renewable energy by helping municipal governments implement large-scale and cost-effective solar energy projects.

An update on New Mexico's progress: As hoped, the solar bond bill was introduced by Rep. Mimi Stewart [D], a strong leader on environmental issues, in the New Mexico legislature, not on Tuesday as originally predicted, but today. No matter -- it's when it gets passed that counts. You can track developments of House Bill 380, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bonding Act, on the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy's website, or get it straight from the horse's mouth on the N.M. legislature website.

A little more backstory on the bill's journey: In the absence of federal leadership, much energy policy is made at the state level. Gov. Bill Richardson [D], formerly Clinton's secretary of energy, has folded the solar bond bill into a package of related clean-energy policies that he is promoting, namely:

• Codification into statute of New Mexico's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires utilities to provide 10 percent renewable energy in their mix by 2011;
• A $2 million Clean Energy Fund which would provide $1.5 million for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects and $500,000 for hydrogen-related research and economic development;
• Several tax exemptions for wind-energy equipment and energy-technology manufacturing firms; and
• An excise tax exemption for hybrid automobiles with mileage better than 27.5 mpg.

In addition to these bills, the governor has also announced the formation of a task force to develop a utility-scale solar-power project, and has announced his plans to provide $6 million in state funding for a variety of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects.

We are particularly excited about seeing good things come out of New Mexico because Gov. Richardson is influential with the Western Governors' Association. We are hoping that he will take a moment at their next meeting to talk about how the solar-bond bill is guaranteed to save the state money from day one while preventing, annually, air emissions of about 93 million pounds of carbon dioxide (a key global warming gas), 223,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides (which plays a large role in the formation of ground level ozone, aka smog, and is a serious factor in respiratory illnesses), and 176,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide (acid rain, anyone?)*.

And hey, if it goes over well with the WGA, that can't help but increase the chatter heard from some quarters about how Gov. Richardson would be a good candidate for vice president, right?

Solar bond as catapult to the White House? Vote Solar and CCAE, kingmakers? Uh huh. A guy can dream, anyway. But take a moment and imagine how different the world would be if this country had a vice president focused on energy issues of the renewable variety.

*[Correction, 04 Feb 2003: The emission reductions numbers have been updated to reflect more accurate calculations. It orignially estimated emissions reductions of 64 million poinds of carbon dioxide, 130,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 260,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide.]