link to video of Press Conference on Channel 2 in Houston
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Feb 3rd 2009
Contact: Alejandro Savransky
Environment Texas Forecasts Sunny Session for Solar Power
New Study Shows Proposed Legislation Would Create 22,000 Jobs, Reduce CO2 emissions by 25 million tons
Houston, TX – Environment Texas, joined by local business leaders, predicted a ‘sunny’ legislative session for bills promoting the development of solar power technologies in the state of Texas. Pointing to a new analysis of solar’s economic development potential, the group declared that a robust solar program would help put Texans back to work and position the state as a world leader for solar production.
“The sun that strikes Texas’ buildings and soil each day has the potential to power the state many times over – and the technologies needed to harvest that energy are already here,” said Alejandro Savransky, Environment Texas Field Organizer. “The question facing Texas is whether we will lead the solar energy revolution – bringing good jobs and clean power to our state – or whether we will lag behind.”
HB 278 (Anchia, D-Dallas) and SB 427 (Shapiro, R-Plano) would require the state’s electric utilities to support the development of 2000 megawatts of solar and other on-site renewable technologies by offering direct incentives to consumers and businesses. According to a new report by Environment Texas, Public Citizen and Vote Solar, such a standard could lead to installations on 500,000 roofs in Texas by 2020 at a cost of about 98 cents per month per Texan. This investment would create an estimated 22,000 jobs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 29 million tons, the equivalent of taking 4.3 million cars off the road.
Here in Houston, the Mirabeau B Sales Center is an example of how solar energy can create jobs, save consumers money, and protect the environment. “We see this project as a ‘poster child’ for distributed solar power generation. Proper incentives can make this project accessible to individuals, companies, civic, and government agencies,” said Joe Meppelink, principal at MetaLab and faculty research coordinator at the University of Houston, Gerald D Hines College of Architecture.
“Texas has the “right stuff” to become a world leader in solar energy development – reaping the benefits of cleaner air, a robust economy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels,” said Savransky. “Creating a statewide rebate program for solar will give Texans more power over their electric bills and kick-start an economic boom for the state.”
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Environment Texas is a statewide, citizen-based, environmental advocacy organization working for clean air, clean water, and open spaces.
