by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
The Middle East is synonymous with oil—a critical natural resource that has transformed the nations of that region into some of the wealthiest on Earth.
My home state of Arizona has no oil to speak of but is blessed with a natural resource that in my opinion is even better: abundant sunshine.
Just as oil was a passport to wealth in the 20th century, I believe the sun will be a gateway to prosperity in the 21st. With more than 300 days of sunshine every year, Arizona and the neighboring states straddle some of the best areas in the world for solar power. We have the potential to be a global center for the production of clean, renewable electricity—a commodity that is certain to be in high demand in the decades to come.
As a member of Congress, I wake up every morning and go to sleep every night thinking about the significant challenges facing our country. Among the greatest of these are:
How do we create good jobs and strengthen our economic competitiveness?
How do we ensure our national security in a dangerous world?
How do we protect our natural environment—especially from the threat of catastrophic climate change?
The reason I get so excited about solar power is that it offers a viable solution, at least in part, to all of these major challenges: economic competitiveness, energy independence, and climate change. Indeed, my support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act is rooted in the need to address these critical issues.
Because of its tremendous potential, promoting solar power has been a top priority for me ever since I arrived in Congress in 2007. I never miss an opportunity to advance this issue, whether through legislation, public education or personal advocacy.
But what would it take for solar to really become a major power source in the United States? Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a report outlining how we could generate 20 percent of our power from wind energy by 2030. What if we were to adopt a comparable target for solar energy? What would it take to achieve that?
Well, over the next two decades we would need to install at least 2,200 times as much solar power capacity as we did last year! The industry would have to sustain an annual growth rate of 33 percent for the next 20 years.
In other words, our future growth would have to dwarf our past accomplishments. That’s a significant challenge in its own right.
But significant solar expansion also would challenge us to increase our grid integration capabilities, develop new energy storage systems and upgrade solar financing mechanisms. And we would need to train a solar workforce that can deploy and integrate solar into existing and new infrastructure.
While solar hot water heating is standard on most homes in the Tucson, Arizona, community of Civano, many homes also feature solar photovoltaic panels.
Meeting such enormous logistical challenges is difficult, but not impossible. Our nation has risen to incredible challenges before. But it will require more than just effective individual companies. It will require coordination across the entire solar community, including private companies, academia, non-profits, and government. We must take our collaborative efforts to a new level.
The good news is that solar policy has made some remarkable advances in recent years, despite the industry’s limited resources.
This has happened because solar offers a real solution that speaks to today’s needs in a uniquely effective way. Nevertheless, from my vantage point in Congress, I can see that continued forward momentum will require a substantial and coordinated advocacy effort. Thankfully, solar supporters are passionate about their cause.
We must draw on that passion to overcome some significant hurdles. First among these is raising awareness of the true potential of solar power. Few of my congressional colleagues really believe that solar is capable of making a substantial contribution to our energy needs anytime in the near future. This must change.
People need to understand that solar technology works, it is affordable, and it is in our national interest. They also need to understand that without supportive policy, our nation will fall behind foreign competitors in what is poised to be a major 21st century industry, just as we have in so many others, such as textiles, automobiles, flat-panel displays, and nuclear technology.
My staff and I are working hard to spread the news about solar:
Since 2007 I have introduced or cosponsored numerous pieces of solar legislation, including workforce training, grid-integration studies, and incentive tax credits for manufacturing and deployment.
My district office gives free “Solar 101” seminars across southern Arizona to help people understand how to take advantage of the new incentives and go solar themselves.
I talk almost weekly with solar leaders across our state to coordinate efforts with them to educate Arizona business and community leaders.
And Arizona is an example of a state moving forward with solar:
Applications have been submitted to develop solar power projects on more than half a million acres of federal land in Arizona.
The governor recently signed a manufacturing tax credit into law, prompting numerous companies to explore locating in the state.
The statewide Renewable Energy Tariff is generating millions of dollars for utilities to use in developing solar projects to meet their renewable energy requirements.
President Obama recently visited the Southwest and toured the vast photovoltaic array at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The base is home to the largest PV installation in the western hemisphere: 72,000 panels on 140 acres generating 14 megawatts of clean, sustainable power. After his tour, the President spoke of the “power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.”
He is absolutely right. Solar power has the potential to be a core solution to many of our largest policy challenges and increase our prosperity in the process. But to realize this potential, solar needs a coordinated advocacy effort. It is time for this fragmented industry, and those who support solar energy, to come together and speak with one voice: “Solar is ready. The time for solar is now.”
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Gabby Giffords: ‘The Time for Solar is Now’ By Osha Davidson
Solar power is very serious. Between solar hot water, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaics, solar technologies have the potential to make a dramatic contribution to our energy challenges right now. But as they say in politics, perception is reality. That, in my view, is the number one challenge facing the solar industry in the United States.
A former Fulbright scholar with a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University, Gabby brings a keen intellect and a solid understanding of our physical infrastructure to the debate on the nation’s energy future. She has often said that her commitment to developing renewable energy sources — solar in particular — is based on three inseparable issues: Economic prosperity (in the form green-tech jobs), national security (energy independence), and environmental protection — especially fighting climate change.
“My mission as an elected official,” Gabby once said, “is to help move solar policy forward.”
Not that solar power has been her only mission. Gabby has taken strong stands on many other important issues, including support for veterans and active service men and women, immigration and fiscal responsibility. But it’s in working for solar energy that she truly shines.
Terrain (“A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments”) has called Gabby “the U.S.’s strongest elected representative for renewable energy.”
Given her priorities — and the fact that we share them — The Phoenix Sun will focus on providing information about “solar power and environmental news from the American Southwest” — just like it says on our masthead. We have a deep affection for and appreciation of Congresswoman Giffords, but there are many sources for news about the tragedy in Tucson and, specifically, about Gabby’s condition.
We believe that continuing to work for a renewable energy future is the best way to honor Gabby, especially if you believe, as she does, and as we do, that “the time for solar is now.”
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Today’s Tragedy in Tucson By Simmons Buntin
The state of Arizona has been a contentious place to live, politically, for several years now. As a resident of Tucson, I know. We live in a state where hatred and a selfish, so-called pioneering “spirit” has been at the core of our legislature and governor’s seat, and perhaps beyond. Legislation that provides for racial profiling, that bans ethnic studies, and — most recently — that provides for the purchase of a handgun without background checks and the carrying of concealed weapons without a permit has been energetically approved by a legislature that prides itself on being “maverick” — as if leadership is defined by that singular trait — but has no apparent sense of community, respect, and compassion. These acts go beyond the ability of someone to reasonably protect him- or herself and into the realm of hate and anti-government. That polls and voting demonstrate that roughly half of the state’s residents support such moves is astounding and disturbing. Or comes down to ignorance, self-imposed or otherwise, which is just as disturbing.
But the tragic events of today, when U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot point blank along with 18 others, when a federal judge, a nine-year-old girl, and a Congressional aide were murdered (among others) by a 22-year-old man with a semi-automatic assault gun at a public event in a public space, has surpassed anything most of us could have feared.
The editors of Terrain.org send our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the families of those injured and killed. We hope for fast and full recoveries by Congresswoman Giffords and the others who were injured.
We also call for an overhaul of the state legislature, a full repeal of the race-based and hate-based legislation and dangerous gun legislation. The effects of such legislation, though perhaps indirect, are nevertheless evident in the actions of today.
We live in a geography of rich cultural and ecological diversity, a diversity that should be celebrated with respect, openness, and compassion. Hate has no place here, and those who support it have no place here.
Congresswoman Giffords is an amazing person, the U.S.’s strongest elected representative for renewable energy, a strong advocate for place and the kind of diversity that can make this state such an inspiring and wonderful place. Just a year ago she wrote the guest editorial for Terrain.org’s 24th issue: “Solar is the Bridge to Our Future.”
Let us build from this tragedy to create a state that values diversity and compassion, and let us always remember those who lost their lives and suffered injuries.
www.terrain.org/columns/24/guest.htm
http://theenergycollective.com/
blog.terrain.org/2011/01/08/todays-tragedy-in-tucson/
