A New Independence - Energy Independence

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Today, on the fourth of July, the U.S. commemorated 234 years of independence from Great Britain.

We think it’s time for another declaration of independence – a declaration of energy independence. In recognition of this day and the ongoing debate over comprehensive energy and climate legislation, Applied Materials – the world’s leading supplier of solar panel manufacturing equipment – outlines how America can remain competitive in the clean energy race and lead America’s next great industry.

We need policy that includes:

• A Renewable Electricity Standard with teeth: 25% by 2025.

• Policy incentives - such as low-cost financing for renewable project deployment and a permanent Manufacturing Tax Credit/Investment Tax Credit.

• Increased federal procurement of renewable energy. The government is the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. at 250 gigawatts per year.

• A price on carbon.

We look forward to the national adoption of these key policies that will make the U.S. not only a leader in clean technology, but also bring us one step closer to true energy independence.

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Comments

Finally a Green Power at Home Option

Submitted by Rich on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 14:08.

It's about time - but it looks like finally we can get green options for energy at home from our new utilities.
Deregulation of the electricity market has allowed some unique and creative companies like Independence Energy to start buying Renewable Energy Certificates as a utility on the wholesale market, and offer 100% Renewable Energy to consumers at home.
On the SelectMyPower.com website, I found that the option they call "TrueGreen" is only about a penny more per kWh for 100% Renewable energy sourcing, and still we would get their 5% Rebate as a cash-back bonus on the annual total of our electric bills.

For us, that will be like going all-green and getting a free month of electricity at the same time.

It is this kind of forward-thinking offer that we need more of in the market, in addition to the federal mandates, to push for more private investment in renewable plants. Greater demand from residential customers making a greener choice will also make them profitable at the same time, to reduce the burden on taxpayers from subsidies that often get wasted like the Solyndra deal.