Wired Up! 83% of Americans support incentives for using solar.

Source: Climate Progress

A new Gallup poll shows strong support for more renewable energy incentives.

Guest Blogger Daniel J. Weiss is CAPAF’s Director of Climate Strategy.

Congressional advocates of suspending the Clean Air Act to block the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring reductions in carbon dioxide pollution either don’t know or don’t care that the public overwhelmingly opposes their efforts. What’s worse is that they pretend that the public is on their side just because their big oil and other special interest pals are egging them on to stop EPA from protecting our families’ health.

Take Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the new Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In December he co-wrote an article with the head of Americans for Prosperity, an organization funded by the Koch Brothers who own Koch Industries – a major polluter. The article falsely claimed that “We think the American consumer would prefer” that EPA not establish carbon pollution safeguards. This claim is disproven by recent public opinion research.

ORC International – the pollster for CNN – conducted a nationwide poll for the Natural Resources Defense Council. It found overwhelming support for more – not fewer – EPA safeguards.

This ORC International survey … conducted among a national probability sample of 1,007 adults… [The] survey was completed during the period January 27-30, 2011. The margin of error …is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Americans want the EPA to do more, not less. Almost two thirds of Americans (63 percent) say “the EPA needs to do more to hold polluters accountable and protect the air and water,” versus under a third (29 percent) who think the EPA already “does too much and places too many costly restrictions on businesses and individuals.” Well under than half of Republicans (44 percent), less than a third of Independents (29 percent) and under a fifth of Democrats (16 percent) think the EPA is going too far today.

Americans do not want Congress to kill the EPA’s anti-pollution updates. Only 18 percent of Americans – including fewer than a third of Republicans (32 percent) — believe that “Congress should block the EPA from updating pollution safeguards,” after being told: “Some members of Congress are proposing to block the Environmental Protection Agency from updating safeguards to protect our health from dangerous air pollution, saying they will cost businesses too much money.” More than three out of four Americans (77 percent) — including 61 percent of Republicans – say “Congress (should) let the EPA do its job.”

The latest USA Today/Gallup poll found that creating incentives to invest in solar and other forms of alternative energy is the top priority of Americans.

Of eight actions Congress could take this year, Americans most favor an energy bill that provides incentives for using alternative energy (83%), an overhaul of the federal tax code (76%), and speeding up withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan (72%).

Of the eight proposals, the alternative energy bill and tax code overhaul ideas show the greatest bipartisan agreement, with 74% or more of each party group favoring these.

With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and Democrats in control of the Senate, it would appear the proposals with the best chances of passing are those that generate strong bipartisan support. That is clearly the case for a bill that would provide incentives for increased use of alternative energy.

Cool Roof $1,500 Dollar Tax Credit Scam

Do you have a cool roof such as PVC or TPO white flat roof, or metal roof not rated as “cool” by Energy Star?

Tough luck – you will not be getting that $1500 promised to you by the Economic Recovery Act, and here is why:

The energy-efficiency tax credit, so widely advertised by the government and roof manufacturers, turned out to be a scam for those homeowners who installed a truly “COOL ROOF” such as a white PVC or TPO roof, White Roof Coating, or even a Spray-Foam Roofing system. It reminds me a Bush-like patronage of the Big-Oil in terms of support which this Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Bill provides for Asphalt Shingles manufacturers, while cool roofing manufacturers and roof owners get screwed.

In the end, the tax credit applies only to Metal Roofing systems (which are cool as it is, even when you do not consider a cool-roof paint, such as Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000, and similar metal roof coatings), and – you got it – “cool” asphalt shingles, as well as other bitumen-based roofing systems which are considered “cool” by Energy Star and EPA.

Really – asphalt shingles??? Asphalt shingles would be the least energy efficient roofing system for sloped roofs. They store solar heat, and transfer it into your house even after sun goes down. An average color (not black) asphalt shingle roof goes up-to 165-170 F degrees on a 95 F degree day, and remains hot almost into the next morning.

The asphalt shingles manufacturers such as GAF, Tamko, Certain Teed and others, created a gimmick in form of Cool Roof shingles. OK – these shingles are lighter in color, and the granular surface is coated with reflective materials, but they still will be much hotter than any metal roof without Cool Roof paint / coating. And the cost a lot more than regular shingles – over $2500 extra on an average 20 squares new asphalt shingles roof. The roof prices for such “cool asphalt roofs” are very close to a metal roof such as Interlocking Steel shingles, and assuming a life span of average asphalt roof to be about 15-20 years, vs. Metal Roof life of over 50 years, it looks like a very bad deal for the homeowner. Keep in mind that both a Metal Roof and a cool asphalt shingles roof would qualify for the cool roof tax credit of up-to $1500.

Owners of true Cool Roofs are getting screwed to benefit the oil industry.
The most ironic fact in this story, is that this so called “energy efficiency tax credit” supports big roofing manufacturers, who use petroleum-based products to produce these supposedly cool roofs. And these “cool asphalt roofs” will end up in a landfill in 15-20 years, making our nation “even greener” than it already is. This reminds me of G.W. Bush era, when US was getting greener, but somehow big oil was getting more and more support form the government, while green energy and green building companies were struggling and there were minimal subsidies (if any) for any green or solar projects.

While the uncool asphalt shingles roofs do qualify for energy tax credit, the truly cool roofs are out of luck. Consider these facts:

A white PVC (and TPO) roofing membrane such as IB Flat Roof, reflects over 95% of solar heat. On a 95 F degree day, this white PVC roof will barely reach 100 F degrees. You can put your bare knees on this roof and it won’t burn your skin. Try doing that on a black surface roof such as rubber roof. You will jump up almost immediately, as your skin will start to “burn” when in contact with a 170 F degrees surface. Try to be in a room under such black rubber roof. Unless you crank your AC to maximum power, you will be sweating as if you were in a sauna.

There are some Metal Roofs, which do not have a cool roof coating, or are made from unpainted metals – so called mill finish metal roof. These metal roofs are still very energy efficient, even though they do not have a “Cool Roof” label.These roofs will be in fact much cooler that the “coolest” asphalt shingle roofs, or a cool modified bitumen roof, but its not cool enough to get you $1500 tax credit.

If you have a black roof (e.g. a rubber roof, tar roof or bitumen roof), and decided to either be “green”, or reduce your HVAC operation costs, or both, and hired a roofing contractor specializing in spray-roof coatings to install this liquid-applied white roof. Well, you too are out of luck…

So it does not matter if you have an “actually cool” roofing type on the roof of your home or business – you will not be getting your Energy Efficiency Tax Credit if you have any of the above mentioned roofing material types. Keep in mind that Energy Star actually recognizes white (and some other colors) PVC and TPO Roofing systems, as well as spray-roof coatings as Cool Roofs. They just did not include these roofing materials into the Cool Roof Tax Credit program.

It is unfortunate and a shame that real cool roofs and homeowners who invest in these premium priced roofing systems, get screwed, while an imitation products like cool asphalt shingles qualify for this $1500 tax credit.

*From: http://www.roofingcalculator.org/cool-roof-tax-credit-scam.php

Mary Matalin, James Carville Agree, Solar a Good Product that Needs to be Sold in DC

Source: GreenTechMedia

Closing keynoters at Solar Power International 2010 foresee a shift to Republican influence and the need to sell the economic and jobs benefits of building sun

Al Gore was recently asked by Tom Friedman if he thought the discussion of climate change and renewable energy was expanding or remained confined to the same small demographic. Strange bedfellows Mary Matalin and James Carville, keynoters at the closing general session of Solar Power International 2010 (SPI), suggested an answer to Friedman’s question.

Republican Matalin, adviser to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, and Democrat Carville, part of President Bill Clinton’s brain trust, remain – despite their recent relocation to New Orleans – on intimate terms with behind-the-scenes Washington.

Announced to be bringing inside dope on the brutal political realities facing the solar and other renewable industries in the mid-term elections, their celebrity nevertheless failed to noticeably boost the SPI general session turnout, perhaps because of the solar industry’s meager appetite for news about the brutal political realities facing it.

Carville joked about the Democrats’ November fate. Republican candidates are, he said, “some entertaining people. You know with one dressing up like a witch [Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell] and another dressing up like a Nazi [Ohio Republican Congressional candidate Rich Iott], you’re doing pretty good.”

Widely predicted losses by Democrats across the nation could cost them control of both the House and the Senate. That bodes ill for the advancement of renewables-supportive policy legislation like a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), requiring the nation’s utilities to obtain a portion of their power from renewable sources. It would also mean the end of any action that might help prevent the advance of global climate change.

“There’s a hurricane coming,” Carville said. “It’s not gonna change course. It’s gonna hit the Democratic party on election day.” But, Carville asked, “Is it gonna be a category five? In which case, you lose everything. You’re wiped out. 1994. Is it a category four, where you lose most things but some things sort of survive? Or is it gonna be a category three, where you lose a lot but the structure remains intact, you keep a majority in the House and the Senate?”

Carville said the situation is still shifting. “A month ago it was a five. Two weeks ago it was a pretty strong four. Today, it’s a weak four.” His colorful description belied his tactic. By reframing the argument, if the Democrats just maintain control of the Senate they can claim a sort of victory.

Matalin handled this carefully. “Most handicappers,” she said, “even the thoughtful ones, have a takeover of the House by Republicans by somewhere between 40 and 50 seats.” She called that “unprecedented.” On the other hand, she said, “handicappers would still not predict a Senate takeover. But that there are as many seats in play in the strange situations that they are says something about the zeitgeist.”

She predicted that Republican Carly Fiorina would beat incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer in the California Senate race.

“If Boxer loses, it’s a five,” Carville said quickly.

Matalin and Carville agreed that one race to watch is the fight for the Colorado Senate seat where appointed incumbent Democrat Michael Bennett is running just behind Republican challenger Ken Buck.

“If I knew the outcome of the Colorado Senate race,” Carville said, “I would know a lot about the election.”

“I agree Colorado is illustrative,” Matalin hedged, not wanting to provide even a small opportunity for Democrats to gloat after November 3, “but not necessarily dispositive.”

Matalin and Carville both agreed on three points. The first was that putting up rooftop solar panels is a good idea.

“Magnificent,” was the way Matalin described the Brad Pitt/Global Green Make It Right sustainable housing project in New Orleans. “They were initially quite expensive but over a short period of time,” she said, “they are selling energy back to the city.”

Carville said the solar panels Matalin recently had installed on their New Orleans home make good economic sense with Louisiana incentives.

The second point they agreed on was that the way to sell solar and the other renewable energies is to emphasize that support of the renewable industries with smart incentives will provide domestic revenues and jobs.

There is a way, Matalin and Carville agreed, to win the fight for renewables policies that until now, as someone said, has resembled the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan. “Repackage it and call it something else,” Carville said of the vital Treasury Grant provision of the Recovery Act.

“I agree,” Matalin said. “Don’t say recovery, don’t say stimulus, don’t say earmarks, say job-creating.” She added something very important. “The type of Republicans that are going to win,” she said, “get innovation, they get entrepreneurship, they get the decentralization of solar and they get that they have to deliver.”

The third point on which Matalin and Carville agreed was not explicit but was the answer to the question Tom Friedman asked Al Gore. Like the larger public, Matalin and Carville are beginning to see the inherent economic value of renewable energy and sustainable ways and agree those things can be politically viable with the right methods and language.

“Your future,” Carville said, “is going to be determined by politicians. And your competitors, the coal people, the petroleum people, the nuclear people, they’re all in this, they’re all over Washington. I would urge you to make your case. You have a very good case to make.”

Support The Solar Bill Of Rights

Source: SolarFeeds

Americans love solar energy and 92 percent of them are demanding greater access to it.

It’s hard to get that many Americans to agree on anything – let alone something as politically charged as energy. And yet, solar energy generates that kind of support.

Americans understand that solar is a solution to many of the problems facing us today. Solar reduces pollution. It reduces our use of finite energy sources. And it reduces our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Despite these real and immediate benefits, the solar industry continues to face restrictions on its growth. Some local governments have enacted time-consuming and/or expensive solar installation procedures. Yet other limitations are imposed by neighborhood associations who are supposedly concerned with solar “aesthetics,” while completely ignoring the dozens of power lines lining their streets.

While these types of regulations are counterproductive to solar’s growth, the biggest obstacle to the solar industry is the billions of dollars in subsidies Big Oil and Big Coal continue to receive from the federal government.

For almost a century, dirty fuel companies have used tax credits and other public funds to grow their coffers and political reach. But today, the finite resources they’ve been pulling from beneath the earth are diminishing as quickly as their toxic carbon footprint is growing. As this year’s mining and drilling accidents have shown us, the past and present course of tax subsidies, aggressive digging and unintended environmental consequences have now reached a very scary point.

A shift must be made.

The solar industry recognizes this and is ready with needed solutions. The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) has launched the Solar Bill of Rights Campaign, a grassroots movement working to educate Americans about solar energy and provide the answers to our energy needs.

Driven by frustration created by the climate bill collapse and the continued pressure by dirty energy industry lobbyists, Americans are no longer remaining silent. Over 30,000 of us have signed the Solar Bill of Rights in the past few weeks, creating a growing movement for energy change. Later this fall, SEIA’s president, Rhone Resch, will march the Solar Bill of Rights into the halls of Congress and demand the roadblocks to solar’s growth be lifted.

Be a part of this important moment and add you name to the Solar Bill of Rights today. Help change the destructive course we are on and create the kind of future we deserve.