SOLAR TODAY - March 2011

perspective

leaDing the renewaBle energy revolution SoLARToDAy.oRG sOLaR TODA Y®

Taking our Message to the States

Now more than ever: Think globally, act locally.

Irene PÉrez Law: ASES Interim Executive Director

By JEFF LyNG

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has a golden opportunity in 2011 to drive the transition to a new energy economy at the state level. Last year’s mid-term elections resulted in an historic number of new legislators and a remarkable 29 new governors taking office. With this large turnover in state leadership, we face a tremendous need to educate the new legislators, governors, state energy office directors and their staffs on the opportunity for economic recovery and energy security that the sustainable energy sectors can deliver. With more than 10,000 members and regional chapters in more than 40 states, ASES is better-positioned than any other nonprofit clean energy advocacy organization to lead the re-education of our newly installed officials.

Several states made meaningful advances in 2010. For example, Colorado raised its renewable energy standard (RES) to 30 percent (by 2020) and California raised its standard to 33 percent (also by 2020). ASES can and should be active in pushing other states for higher, more robust RESs in 2011. Another critical issue will be to maintain the funding that allows state energy offices to complete their implementation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) programs. ASES chapters and members could support revolving loan and loan-loss-reserve programs that will ensure long-term funding for state energy offices.

When we speak of funding ARRA-authorized programs, we’re edging into the area of federal policy.

Energy policy activity in Washington since the mid-terms suggests that for about the next two years our focus will be to defend the ground that clean energy has gained. A key area for action will be to bulwark the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Another issue of national concern is the future of property-assessed clean energy (PACE) programs. These local financing tools are still in limbo due to mortgage-lending rules established by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac). ASES chapters and members should step up in encouraging their congressional delegations to support this innovative financing model. Talk to your senators and congresspeople when they’re at home in their districts. That’s the best time to show them how PACE can support the vigorous growth of local businesses.

As a society and industry, our strongest argument is our proven ability to generate jobs during the worst economy since the Great Depression. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s National Jobs Census, the solar industry now employs more than 100,000 people. ASES’ Green Collar Jobs report estimates that aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies should produce a net gain of 4. 4 million new jobs by 2020, over and above the 8.5 million people employed by those industries in 2007. Photovoltaic (PV) installations rose 115 percent in 2010 alone, validating the Green Collar Jobs projection.

The ASES Policy Committee has begun developing a toolkit for chapters to use in educating incoming administrations on best practices, model policies and the economic development potential of local sustainable energy businesses. We expect to distribute the toolkit in time for the SOLAR 2011 Conference in Raleigh, N.C.

ASES has a story to tell. I urge you to get involved in your local ASES chapter in 2011. That’s where the action will be. See you all in Raleigh. ST

Editorial Gina R. Johnson: Editor/Associate Publisher editor@solartoday.org Seth Masia: Deputy Editor Mike Koshmrl: Assistant Editor Solartoday.org Brooke Simmons: Manager of Online Publishing Design Allison J. Gray: Art Director Dan Bihn: Photojournalist Contributors Richard Crume, Rona Fried, Chuck Kutscher, Joseph Mc Cabe, Liz Merry, Mick Sagrillo, Robert Ukeiley

Jeff Lyng is chair of the american solar energy society. contact him at chair@ases.org.

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Magazine Advisory Council Gabriela Martin, Chair Dan Bihn Paul Notari Richard Crume Alejandro Palomino Frank Kreith Mick Sagrillo Chuck Kutscher Bob Scheulen Joseph McCabe Robert Ukeiley Dona McClain Jane M. Weissman

ASES Operations Carolyn Beach: Membership Manager Richard Burns: National Solar Tour Manager/ Chapters Liaison Bradley D. Collins: National Campaign Director Elena Hoffrichter: Bookkeeper Christy Honigman: Director of Development Kate Hotchkiss: National Solar Conference Manager Ann Huggins: Member Services Dona Mc Clain: Program Coordinator Joel Moore: National Solar Conference Assistant Chris Stimpson: Executive Campaigner Solar Nation, a program of ASES

Get Involved:

register for solar 2011 SoLAR 2011 is America’s leading conference on the emerging trends, technology and opportunities shaping the new energy economy. It’s widely recognized by solar energy professionals for its cutting-edge educational content. SOLAR 2011 will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, May 17-21. ASES expects to attract more than 5,000 solar professionals, business leaders and entrepreneurs to downtown Raleigh, with participants traveling from across the United States and internationally. Register at nationalsolarconference.org.

ASES Board of Directors
Jeff Lyng, Chair
Margot McDonald, Immediate Past Chair
Bill Poulin, Treasurer
Jason Keyes, Secretary
Toni Bouchard
Richard Caputo
David Comis
Gregory Edwards
Trudy Forsyth
Allison Gray
Mary Guzowski
David Hill
Nathalie Osborn
David Panich
Tehri Parker
Jeff Peterson
Phil Smithers
Mark Thornbloom
SOLAR TODAy (ISSN: 1042-0630) is published nine times
per year by the American Solar Energy Society, 4760 Walnut
Street, Suite 106, Boulder, Colorado 80301, 303.443.3130,
fax 303.443.3212, ases@ases.org, ases.org. Copyright © 2011
by the American Solar Energy Society Inc. All rights reserved.