SolarAmigo’s Recent Comments

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  Solar America Initiative: Not as Bad as You Think

  It is a sad fact that this Administration did not bite off a bigger chunk of its federal spending for solar, but let's not lose sight of what has happened here. Although I respect many points that Adam has made here, the conclusion that "this remedy is so pathetically inadequate to the problem that it seems more like an insult" is a bit harsh.  

  Let's take a step back and think about what many of us thought when Bush took office-- all renewable programs might be completely zeroed out.  Trust me, that was a real possibility.  We have now reached the stage that, for whatever reason, political optics or otherwise, the Bush Administration is listening to the push from level-headed Energy Secy Sam Bodman and at least making a modest effort towards solar, bringing us the largest solar budget in 25 years.  

  I think that as a community of solar supporters and activists, we should run with this rather than dump on it.  As a Democratic Washington energy "insider," if you told me 5 years ago that Bush would promote any energy initiative that didn't involve oil, I'd assume you were smoking crack recently.  A solar initiative?  You've been doing double time on the pipe.

  $148 million in FY07 pales in comparison to military spending, or probably fuel for Air Force One & Two for that matter. But think about what a doubling of the federal solar budget does for the domestic PV industry (if you have any doubts as to their enthusiasm, check out the industry homepage at www.seia.org).  Think about the possibility of additional funding opening up more private financing markets for PV because of short- to mid-term risk reduction.  Think about the few cents/kWh that it may knock off the cost of PV systems that are already starting to penetrate certain high-value markets, such as Hawaii and New York, with considerable speed.  And think about whether this Solar America Initiative will extend for another year, or two, or five.  That could easily add up to $1 billion in a hurry.

  And remember, compared to the California initiative, which I fully support and commend, this money is required by law to be cost-shared.  Leveraged by law, this $1 billion could turn into $2 billion.  All of a sudden, it's not peanuts.  And I'm not being a bleary-eyed dreamer here -- this is the reality of Presidential initiatives and cost-sharing requirements.  SAI could play a significant role in bringing a substantial federal R&D presence to the PV world -- the States (including California) simply don't have the expertise resident in our National Labs to do the R&D side-- hence the abundance of credits/rebates.

  So for the good of all of us, please keep critiquing and pointing out how we can do more and do better.  But don't forget to stop and smell the roses once in a while.  Maybe something positive will come out of this after all.On New solar funding is almost comically inadequate posted 3 years, 9 months ago 9 Responses