Bernie Sanders Plan To Make Solar Power More Accessible: "On Tuesday, Vermont Senator and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introduced legislation aimed at making...

payne1000

"On Tuesday, Vermont Senator and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for low-income families to take advantage of solar power. The bill, called the Low Income Solar Act, came the same day that the Obama Administration announced a similar program aimed at installing 300 megawatts of renewable energy in federally subsidized housing by 2020.

The Sanders bill would aid in this effort by providing $200 million in Department of Energy loans and grants to help offset the upfront costs associated with installing solar panels on community facilities, public housing and low-income family homes, according to a press release. The projects would also have to prioritize loans for female- and minority-owned businesses, as well as target specific regions including Appalachia, Indian tribal lands, and Alaskan native communities.

The scientific community tells us very clearly if were going to reverse climate change and the great dangers it poses for the planet we must move aggressively to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, Sanders said in a statement. We can achieve this goal, save families money and protect the planet for future generations.

According to the bill summary, homeowners with suitable roofs would receive grants to help them afford solar panel installation while renters or others without appropriate siting options would get connected through alternative means such as community solar gardens. Solar gardens are designed for those without rooftop access as a way to connect to a shared solar system that guarantees their electricity comes from solar power. Usually these community solar gardens are one or two megawatts in size and operated by third-party solar providers and local utilities.

Environmentalists are pleased that Sanders is running for president, as he is one of the climate change action leaders in the Senate.

Environmental activist and founder of 350.org Bill McKibben recently praised Sanders as the ultimate what-you-see-is-what-you-get politician.

Bernies been in the forefront of all the crucial environmental fights of recent years, always willing to knuckle down and do the hard work of fighting the big corporations, McKibben told the Burlington Free Press.

As ThinkProgress previously reported, after the 2014 election that put the GOP in charge of the Senate, Sanders pushed the chamber to go on the record as to whether climate change is happening, caused by human activity, and resulting in devastating problems in the United States and around the world.

In 2015 he attended the Peoples Climate March in New York City and told Democracy Now! that climate change is a huge issue. Its a planetary crisis. Weve got to act, and we have to act boldly.

He has also consistently opposed the Keystone XL pipeline and has talked publicly about the potentially disastrous environmental effects.

While Sanders entered the race an extreme long shot, his popularity has swelled in the early days of the campaign. On a recent visit to Iowa, one of the early caucus states, Sanders drew big crowds as well as the attention of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clintons campaign. Sanders is gaining major traction in Iowa polling, and has surpassed Clinton among very liberal voters."

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

payne1000 wrote:

"On Tuesday, Vermont Senator and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for low-income families to take advantage of solar power. The bill, called the Low Income Solar Act, came the same day that the Obama Administration announced a similar program aimed at installing 300 megawatts of renewable energy in federally subsidized housing by 2020.

The Sanders bill would aid in this effort by providing $200 million in Department of Energy loans and grants to help offset the upfront costs associated with installing solar panels on community facilities, public housing and low-income family homes, according to a press release. The projects would also have to prioritize loans for female- and minority-owned businesses, as well as target specific regions including Appalachia, Indian tribal lands, and Alaskan native communities.

The scientific community tells us very clearly if were going to reverse climate change and the great dangers it poses for the planet we must move aggressively to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, Sanders said in a statement. We can achieve this goal, save families money and protect the planet for future generations.

According to the bill summary, homeowners with suitable roofs would receive grants to help them afford solar panel installation while renters or others without appropriate siting options would get connected through alternative means such as community solar gardens. Solar gardens are designed for those without rooftop access as a way to connect to a shared solar system that guarantees their electricity comes from solar power. Usually these community solar gardens are one or two megawatts in size and operated by third-party solar providers and local utilities.

Environmentalists are pleased that Sanders is running for president, as he is one of the climate change action leaders in the Senate.

Environmental activist and founder of 350.org Bill McKibben recently praised Sanders as the ultimate what-you-see-is-what-you-get politician.

Bernies been in the forefront of all the crucial environmental fights of recent years, always willing to knuckle down and do the hard work of fighting the big corporations, McKibben told the Burlington Free Press.

As ThinkProgress previously reported, after the 2014 election that put the GOP in charge of the Senate, Sanders pushed the chamber to go on the record as to whether climate change is happening, caused by human activity, and resulting in devastating problems in the United States and around the world.

In 2015 he attended the Peoples Climate March in New York City and told Democracy Now! that climate change is a huge issue. Its a planetary crisis. Weve got to act, and we have to act boldly.

He has also consistently opposed the Keystone XL pipeline and has talked publicly about the potentially disastrous environmental effects.

While Sanders entered the race an extreme long shot, his popularity has swelled in the early days of the campaign. On a recent visit to Iowa, one of the early caucus states, Sanders drew big crowds as well as the attention of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clintons campaign. Sanders is gaining major traction in Iowa polling, and has surpassed Clinton among very liberal voters."

i "On Tuesday, Vermont Senator and 2016 Demo... (show quote)

If solar power was truly a less expensive alternative, we'd need no government programs to subsidize it. Government bureaucrats picking winners and losers only guarantees that the overall economy will be the real loser.

payne1000

Dave wrote:

If solar power was truly a less expensive alternative, we'd need no government programs to subsidize it. Government bureaucrats picking winners and losers only guarantees that the overall economy will be the real loser.

If world governments do nothing to promote renewable energy, every person and every living thing on this planet will be the losers.

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

payne1000 wrote:

If world governments do nothing to promote renewable energy, every person and every living thing on this planet will be the losers.

Sanders is not running to be president of the world.

Assuming fossil fuel really is the sole cause of climate change and/or global warming or whatever scary term one may want to use - there is no reason to think solar is the correct and best renewable source.

The same politicians who call for more expensive means of energy, causing the US to be less and less competitive in the world markets, ironically are often the same who complain about a stagnant economy and its impact on the most vulnerable.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

payne1000 wrote:

If world governments do nothing to promote renewable energy, every person and every living thing on this planet will be the losers.

That's stupid on it's face.

The reason government has to do it is that no business owner is stupid enough to throw his money down a rat-hole, unless they know some moron government will subsidize his bad products with taxpayer money.

***********

If solar cells were so cool, why don't you go make some? Why don't rich liberals spend their own money making them?

payne1000

Dave wrote:

Sanders is not running to be president of the worl... (show quote)

There is no doubt that solar is the best and most practical renewable source for the homeowner. I have an 11 kilowatt solar system. Our electric co-op buys the power I generate and subtracts that amount from our bill. Our only cost now is a $22 monthly metering bill.

Solar energy has no moving parts and solar panels are warranted for 25 years. Solar energy uses no fuel to operate like fossil fuel and nuclear generating plants. Solar energy requires no massive amounts of water for cooling as the fossil fuel and nuclear plants do. Solar energy does not pollute the air and the atmosphere as fossil fuel and nuclear plants do.

Manufacturing and installation of homeowner solar systems could put a lot of people to work.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

payne1000 wrote:

There is no doubt that solar is the best and most ... (show quote)

What's stopping you from going into business and investing your own money?

With the $Billions of profit you make you can fund all sort of liberal causes.

NorthernLight

payne1000 wrote:

There is no doubt that solar is the best and most ... (show quote)

24/7 dispatchable power?

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

NorthernLight wrote:

24/7 dispatchable power?

I love it when libs have a sure fire way to make or save money by making other people spend their money.

payne1000

Super Dave wrote:

That's stupid on it's face.

The reason government has to do it is that no business owner is stupid enough to throw his money down a rat-hole, unless they know some moron government will subsidize his bad products with taxpayer money.

***********

If solar cells were so cool, why don't you go make some? Why don't rich liberals spend their own money making them?

Sander's plan is not about business owners. It's about making it easier for homeowners to afford home solar systems.

Someone would be needed to install those systems. It would definitely help the employment situation, the climate and the homeowner.

payne1000

Super Dave wrote:

What's stopping you from going into business and investing your own money?

With the $Billions of profit you make you can fund all sort of liberal causes.

"Boiling frogs" have no idea it is getting warmer and warmer.

payne1000

NorthernLight wrote:

24/7 dispatchable power?

When one's solar power is sold through the electrical grid, why would that be necessary?

NorthernLight

payne1000 wrote:

When one's solar power is sold through the electrical grid, why would that be necessary?

Because the sun seems to go away every night.

payne1000

Super Dave wrote:

I love it when libs have a sure fire way to make or save money by making other people spend their money.

You'd rather spend your money on chemtrail induced cloud cover, right?

You do realize that chemtrails are the fossil fuel industry's last hope of survival?

payne1000

NorthernLight wrote:

Because the sun seems to go away every night.

Gee, I didn't know that.

When I look at all the money Solar is saving me, it doesn't seem to be important.