Calling on LA to go solar

In a city blessed with year round sunshine and plenty of roof space to absorb it, why is only 1% of LA’s electricity being generated by solar? Whatever the excuses may be, we’ve joined a diverse coalition that will not wait around for change; we’re demanding an increase now.

On Tuesday April 30th, Solar Forward stood among a broad coalition of elected officials, leading businesses, public health professionals, environmental groups and veterans to push for rooftop solar to provide 20% of LA’s energy needs by 2020.

As LADWP looks to replace a large portion of its power supply, we have to make sure to push them in the right direction. Polluting fossil fuels need to be a thing of the past.

Both mayoral candidates have endorsed the 20% by 2020 goal, so after you vote on May 21st, make sure you hold the next mayor to it!

Coalition members calling for 20% by 2020

Going solar together

When it comes to our energy future, we need to change the debate. Clean power is readily accessible but is there the political will to make it a priority? Or will old school oil barons continue to secure fossil fuels now in order to have them in the future?

A recent New York Times article  showed countries finding success while transitioning almost entirely to renewables. In 2011, the U.S. got 12.3% of its electricity from renewable sources, while our Canadian neighbors met 63.4% of their energy needs through renewables.

Countries in Europe have invested heavily in transitioning to renewables.

The U.S. has a great advantage: plenty of land to set up wind and solar projects.  The costs of wind and solar are decreasing as is the price of natural gas.  But the real cost of natural gas is not currently realized since fracking is ruing groundwater and the resulting CO2 produced is burned.

California has immense solar energy potential yet to be tapped. Let’s tap into this potential together. If you refer a friend, family member or co-worker to go solar with Solar Forward, both you and your friend can earn $200 each when you refer through our SunPower referral page.

We’re talking the green talk, but are we walking the green walk?

Unfortunately, not yet.  Well, maybe a little.

First, let’s take a look at the goals.

In Los Angeles, we’ve been tasked with generating 30% of energy from renewables by 2020.  According to LADWP, 39% of the utility’s power comes from coal, while less than 1% comes from solar.

On a macro level, CA is expected to be 33% renewable by 2020.  As of 2010, only 14.6% of generated electricity in the state was renewable.   Governor Brown will earn himself a name upgrade to Governor Green should he succeed in meeting this goal, but it’s looking unlikely.

Just 10 years away from our deadline, it’s obscene that a tiny fraction of our roofs are carpeted in solar in the “Golden State”.  There is enormous untapped potential in CA.  To unleash solar, drastic policy changes must occur, including inside the utilities where officials are slow to adapt.

The highly anticipated Feed-in Tariff program is a great start.  However, for a state using more than 59,000 MW at peak demand, the program’s pilot 10 MW is a drop in the bucket.

What good are mandates when policymakers are dragging in compliance?  We’ve elected these leaders expecting results.  It’s time to move.  The clock is ticking.