Pass this on. Got to me from Phil Scott and IRENEW, Jack Eastman
From: "Teresa Sieckert" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 09:04:04 -0700
To: "Egroup" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [irenew] DOE solar research budget
Michael D. Paranzino
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
1616 H St., NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
202-628-7769 w
240-447-6146 m
703-997-6528 fax
http://www.seia.org
-----------------------------
The Bush Administration has proposed slashing next year's budget for solar
energy research programs 50% - 85% from this year's budget. These are
devastating cuts!
You can do two things right now to help save these important solar research
programs. First, send an email TODAY to the Department of Energy telling
them you want solar research increased, not cut. A sample letter and the
email address are below. Second, forward this email to everyone in your
address book who cares about the environment, or who wants safe, reliable,
renewable energy so they don't face rolling blackouts this summer. That
means everyone in California, for example!
****Send your emails to: [log in to unmask]
Here is a sample email (feel free to change it as you wish, but by all means
send it right now!):
Dear President Bush and Secretary of Energy Abraham:
Two recent national polls showed 90% of Americans want MORE federal research
and development of SOLAR energy, not less. I am part of that 90%.
Solar energy is clean, reliable, and renewable energy that can help us solve
our nation's energy crisis, and it can do this pollution-free. Government
research has led to dramatic improvements in solar technologies in recent
years. For example, the Solar Energy Industries Association reports that
the cost of solar electricity has dropped by more than 40% in just the last
five years, thanks in large part to government and industry research
programs. Let's not kill this progress; let's accelerate it.
Solar power is not just an important part of the solution to our energy
challenges; it is a gift to our children and grandchildren, because it is
abundant, safe, and CLEAN.
Please restore, and increase, research, development, and deployment programs
for solar energy, including photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, and
solar buildings. I'll be watching, and I vote.
Thank you for your consideration.
[add as much name and address information about yourself as you like;
letters with a name and address are usually taken more seriously]
Some of you may be interested in attending a public hearing to support solar
energy. Here is a list of public meetings coming up across the country,
along with additional information that you may find interesting. If you
work in the solar industry or are so inclined, please tailor your comments
as described below. (The letter above is designed more for friends of solar
power. Those directly involved in the solar industry should write
specifically about the successes they have seen grow out of the solar
research programs.)
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
The recently-released National Energy Policy (NEP) recommended a review of
current funding and historic performance of the Department of Energy's
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs. To facilitate
this review, Department of Energy senior officials will receive public
comments on the programs in seven regional meetings during the month of
June. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) funds
research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) of affordable,
advanced energy technologies and practices. This effort is organized around
five energy sectors-(1) buildings, (2) industry, (3) transportation, (4)
power generation and delivery, and (5) Federal government facilities and are
incorporated into 31 programs.
Comments should address: (1) the objectives of the current energy efficiency
and renewable energy research, development, demonstration and deployment
programs, (2) suggested potential objectives for future programs, (3)
implementation of current and future programs, and (4) whether these Federal
programs are achieving intended objectives.
The following public meetings will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. From
9:00 - 10:00, the Department will receive comments from public officials
only.
June 12 Atlanta, Georgia - Location: Main Auditorium (Lower Level), Richard
B. Russell Federal Building and Courthouse, 75 Spring Street SW, Atlanta, GA
30303
June 12 Chicago, Illinois - Location: James Benton Parson Memorial Court
Room
Dirksen Federal Building, Room 2525, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60604
June 19 Boston, Massachusetts - Location: John A. Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
02142-1093
June 19 Seattle, Washington - Location: Bell Harbor International Conference
Center
International Promenade Room, Pier 66, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA
98121-1604
June 21 Denver, Colorado - Location: Adam's Mark Hotel Denver, 1550 Court
Place Denver, Colorado 80202
June 21 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Location: Myerson Auditorium, 210
South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
June 26 Washington, D. C. - Location: Washington Hilton and Towers, 1919
Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D. C.
To accommodate as many individuals as possible, each speaker will be limited
to five minutes. In the event that time does not permit all individuals who
would like to comment, several other options are available to receive public
input. Forms will be available at each location to provide hand-written
comments. Written comments will be accepted and must be submitted to the
Department of Energy no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, June 29, 2001. Written
comments should be no more than four single spaced pages, using 12 pitch
font and 1 inch margins. All written comments will be included in the
proceedings of the seven public meetings. The Department of Energy also
invites their federal partners to submit written comments. Comments may be
sent to: Ms. Bonny Overton, U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE 3.1, 1000 Independence Avenue, S. W.,
Washington, D. C. 20585, or email to [log in to unmask]
Copies of the National Energy Plan can be found on the web at
www.energy.gov <http://www.energy.gov> .
For further information about EERE programs, please visit www.EREN.doe.gov
<http://www.EREN.doe.gov> .
Solar Technologies: The Office of Solar Energy Technologies sponsors
research and development (R&D) that improves the performance and reliability
while reducing the cost of solar technologies that can harness the sun's
energy.
To receive future updates on solar power, email: [log in to unmask]
About the polls: a June Washington Post-ABC News poll found 90% of
respondents nationwide support the federal government developing "more solar
and wind power." When asked what should be the "federal government's
highest [energy] priority," the #1 choice across America was "develop more
solar and wind power." 23% of Americans ranked it #1, the highest score for
that question. In May, a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll found that 91% of
Americans support "investments in new sources of energy such as solar, wind
and fuel cells."
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