November 17-18, Washington, D.C.–
Last Thursday and Friday, MDV-SEIA’s Solar Energy Focus gathered solar advocates, industry leaders, business owners, government officials and politicians together for open dialogue about the current successes of the solar industry and potential obstacles it may face in the coming years.
On the night of the 17th, over a hundred people packed the room for Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s address. Ritter commended states and local governments for taking action when the federal government seems paralyzed, saying, “We do not have the luxury of waiting a year to have a serious national energy policy.” Ritter offered insight and advice based on his own time as governor working to advance Colorado’s new clean energy economy.
Nobel prize winner Dr. John Byrne, who serves as the Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy and Distinguished Professor at University of Delaware, spoke to attendees during the morning plenary session on the 18th. He discussed a variety of topics, including the significant achievements of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). The SEU is a public-private partnership that delivers renewable energy and conservation service.
Byrne noted some of the challenges to America’s solar industry, including the rapidly expanding manufacturing industry in Shenzhen, China. He demonstrated his point by showing a photograph of Shenzhen in 1980, as a fishing village, and a photo of Shenzhen today, a colossal city the size of two Manhattans with huge production capabilities and allure to industry investors. He closed by stressing that someone will get the jobs from renewable sector—the answer as to whom will get those jobs depends on America’s willingness to act quickly and compete.
The numerous breakout sessions offered during the afternoon kept conference attendees busy and engaged. The state policy panel addressed the opportunities and challenges facing DC, Maryland, and Virginia respectively in growing the renewable sector. In particular, Virginia emerged in discussion as the state with the most obstacles to clean energy growth. To its north, south, and west, progress has been strong, yet it remains in an almost “third world energy state.”
The EPA vs. Congress panel posed important questions to the audience about what the government’s role is in the energy sector. Panelists noted that the EPA has long been constrained from essentially doing its job, and it has a lot of catching up to do now. Panelists discussed regulations on coal and natural gas and what the implications of these will be on the market share for renewables. One panelist advised solar advocates to make their voices heard to their elected officials in support of the EPA’s proposed rules. The EPA’s rules are an indirect way to fix the pricing failures and externalities of fossil fuels, according to Roger Ballentine, President of Green Strategies.
All of the breakout sessions gave a chance for solar industry members to raise important questions and engage in discussion about solutions for current and future problems.
Founder and President of the Stella Group, Ltd., Scott Sklar, wrapped up the evening with a speech that highlighted some of the things that make the solar industry essential and well suited for the 21st century world. Sklar intrigued the crowd with his comment that there are 24 peer-reviewed studies that most or all of our energy needs can be met by renewable energy in the not-so-far future, and zero peer reviewed studies that claim that we can sustain our energy needs on nuclear power and fossil fuels far into the future.
Sklar urged attendees to get “out of their bubble” by attending meetings of local service organizations and explaining the facts, statistics, and technology of solar energy to the community members. He noted that it’s very difficult for people to support something that they don’t understand—it’s the responsibility of the people like those at Solar Energy Focus to help the community understand why solar matters. Sklar touched the crowd by tugging at the very heart of what it means to be American, “We embody choice. The American market idea. You typify American exceptionalism. We offer choice and control. There is no other set of technologies that is so versatile or that fits the American ideal.” Solar energy provides alternatives—it gives consumers the freedom to choose where their energy comes from and the opportunity to produce their own energy and become self-sufficient. Nothing could be more American.
Solar Energy Focus was held November 17-18, 2011 at the Marriott at Metro Center, Washington, D.C. Stay tuned to http://www.mdv-seia.org for upcoming information about Solar Energy Focus 2012 and other MDV-SEIA events.
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