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Though the Million
Solar Roofs Initiative failed to become the Million Solar Roofs
Law this past fall, we can point to four key factors that made this
bill one of the biggest policy initiatives of the year. First, let’s
start with the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Kevin Murray, a
democrat from Los Angeles. While other lawmakers have been extremely
helpful throughout the past three years, no one has done more than
Sen. Murray to promote the concept of making solar power a mainstream
technology.
As he summed
up in a press conference this past summer, “With rising oil
prices and air pollution problems, making solar power a mainstream
and affordable technology is a commonsense solution for California.”
Next, Gov. Schwarzenegger
deserves credit for sticking to his campaign promise to build half
of all new homes in California with solar power. Many politicians
make promises on the campaign trail. Fewer stick to their word when
powerful interests like utility companies raise objections. But
the governor continued to make the Million Solar Roofs Initiative
a top priority throughout the year.
Third, I can’t
leave our own Bernadette Del Chiaro out of the picture. She is exactly
the type of person you want as champion of your cause. Bernadette
does her homework, she’s articulate, she’s tireless,
she’s persistent, and she worked harder than ever to push
the Million Solar Roofs Initiative this summer.
Last, but not
least, Environment California members and activists made a huge
difference, especially in the final weeks of this campaign. Having
spent a few evenings going door to door with our canvassers this
past summer, I had the pleasure of speaking to dozens of people
who were willing to drop what they were doing at the moment to make
a generous contribution to our campaign, sign a postcard to their
assemblymember, and later respond to our weekly e-mail action alerts
to continue to beat the drum for solar power. It’s this kind
of civic engagement that leads to historicchange, like making solar
power a mainstream and affordable
technology.
Thank you for
all of your support. Together, we’ve brought the Million Solar
Roofs Initiative to the brink of becoming law. Please visit our
Web site today to find out the latest.
Sincerely,
Dan Jacobson
Legislative Director
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