Here is an editorial written by the San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance after
the stall of SB-1.
Al
http://www.sdapollo.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance is a broad coalition of
environmental, labor and community organizations. The Alliance was formed
in 2004 and has been working diligently toward the goal of creating a safe
and healthy energy future while creating good jobs for our region. Member
organizations of the San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance include groups such
as the Environmental Health Coalition, the San Diego and Imperial Counties
Labor Council, SouthBay Greens, and the Coalition for Sustainability.
Together, we are working to implement strategies to poise our region as a
leader in achieving energy independence.
One needs only to pull up to a gas pump to be reminded that measures must be
taken to end our region's dependence on fossil fuels. San Diegans were the
first to be hit hard in their pocketbooks during the "energy crisis" when
law makers voted to deregulate the electricity market, and filling one's gas
tank today is a powerful economic reminder that our region's reliance on
fossil fuels does not present a sustainable future for San Diego's energy
use.
Last week the State Legislature ended its session without passing the
"Million Solar Roofs Bill", SB1. The Million Solar Roofs Bill, which can be
brought back for consideration in the January law-making session, aims to
install one million solar systems-enough to provide 3,000 megawatts of solar
power for the state in the next ten years. A million solar roofs will allow
California and San Diego to take another step toward energy independence.
The San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance believes that the Million Solar Roofs
Bill and all such commitments to strong and comprehensive policies that lead
to the goal of creating energy security for our region are important and
necessary. We also believe that we must take the opportunities presented by
such measures to create a viable and sustainable marketplace for those
technologies while protecting our environment and creating good jobs and
training opportunities for our families and future generations.
Recent articles in the UT (Sun Sets Over Bid for Solar Program, September 9,
2005) and other publications have pointed to a debate stirring in Sacramento
around the future of the solar industry. That debate is about who should be
employed to do solar installations. Requiring certified electricians to
install rooftop solar systems isn't a subject for debate it is just common
sense. If you go to get your haircut or your nails trimmed, your
hairdresser and your manicurist must be licensed. Certified electricians
are tested on the electrical code, are well-trained on the latest
technological advances, and know the best ways to make sure that solar
installations are high quality and will benefit the consumers who invest in
them. Today's grid-connected solar systems have hundreds of volts of AC and
DC current circulating within them and in the grid that feeds homes, schools
and businesses. We all understand that poor electrical work done by
untrained workers can have terrible consequences. In addition to
electrocution, bad work can result in property damage and create warranty
problems.
Labor unions, and especially the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers (IBEW) Local 569 that represents and trains electricians in San
Diego and Imperial Counties, worked hard for the passage of the Million
Solar Roofs Bill. In fact, the IBEW and its employers have the largest
solar training program in the country and have been providing training for
solar installations for eight years. In the last two years, IBEW
electricians have completed more than 1200 solar installations in San Diego.
The IBEW is committed to expanding, not shrinking the solar energy market.
Despite this commitment to solar energy, electricians have become the target
of a full-fledged media blame campaign. Less than 100 contractors (C-46)
have worked through this Bill to give themselves a competitive advantage
against more than 25,000 existing C-10 electrical contractors. There is no
"bottom" for employees of the C-46 contractors while all C-10 contractors
must have qualified, certified workers. If that doesn't represent 'special
interest' what does? Furthermore, while the IBEW was working with
legislators to get the Solar Roofs bill passed, utilities amended the bill
to cut the proposed net metering cap in half. Net metering allows rate
payers to feed unused generated electricity back into the grid. Where was
the outrage from the press and the Governor's staff when that amendment
happened?
Some of the Governor's biggest backers, like the California Chamber of
Commerce, did not like SB1 and the Governor is feeling a lot of pressure.
Now, just like he broke his promises to teachers and students to payback the
money he borrowed from their budget, the Governor is looking for a way
around supporting a bill that he once championed. In doing so, the
electrical workers, those who depend on new energy technologies to earn a
living, are the Governor's scapegoats- being used to appease his corporate
allies. The Governor has expressed his intent to use administrative roads to
establish a consumer rebate program. However, such a move means that home
builders will not be required to incorporate solar panels into new home
construction. The San Diego Regional Alliance asks the Governor, why?
In conclusion, in a country where we have only 3% of the world's oil
reserves but account for more than 25% of global demand such political
back-peddling begs the question: What are we going to do now? When the
dust of the recent Legislative session settles such statistics should
elevate us past partisan politicking to a much more inclusive debate about
how the people of our region will deal with the decline of fossil fuels and
the hemorrhaging of middle-class jobs to low-cost countries.
The San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance is dedicated to making
our region energy independent. The security and health of our residents
depends on just such a plan.
For more information about the San Diego Regional Apollo Alliance and to
find out how you can get involved please visit our website at,
www.sdapollo.org.
