Massive ray of hope on climate(Avaaz)

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

http://www.avaaz.org/en/a_ray_of_hope_on_climate/?slideshow

Climate change is accelerating, but there's a massive ray of hope: clean energy is booming, producing nearly 20% of the world's electricity! Incredibly, the US and EU are threatening to stifle this breakthrough -- but together we can stop them.

In the last decade the Chinese government has invested billions in solar, sending panel prices plummeting and making clean green tech almost as cheap as dirty fossil fuels. But the US and EU, who give billions in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil and Coal, are about to drive solar prices back up by putting tariffs on China, and now China is threatening to retaliate. A full on trade war is brewing that could kill the crucial green energy revolution.

The EU and US are deciding right now. Most of the solar industry is against tariffs -- and now massive public support could tip the balance. Sign the urgent petition on the right to save solar – if we build a 500,000 strong petition, Avaaz will make a formal submission to the US International Trade Commission and EU trade Commissioner calling for talks not tariffs:

SIGN THE PETITION

To the EU Trade Commissioner and the US International Trade Commission:
As concerned citizens, we urge you hold urgent talks with China and develop policies that support jobs and innovation and speed up the clean energy revolution. Tariffs, protectionism and a trade war would raise the price of solar and spell disaster both for the budding industry and for the climate. There is serious momentum building now for clean energy and jobs in a global green economy. We call on you to think of the future -- it is in your hands.

[Tìtstewan]

I have sign the petition.
I hope it's help.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

I signed the petiton.

I had serious plans last year to go off-grid solar at my home-- a process that would take several years. I first checked on the cost of doing this through a contractor. There is no way that I could come up with the money, and I was all but laughed out of banks, etc. for a loan. (Plus, they don't like funding off-grid projects.)

So, I tried to figure out a way to self-finance this project with a build-out period of several years. It was just not feasable, as the up-front investment, just for site prep, was more than I could safely self-finance.

When the tariffs against the Chinese were announced, that put the kibosh on the whole project. I would very much still like to do it, but the cost essentially just doubled.

Meanwhile, there is a 100 kW solar panel array right next door to me, doing nothing. Due to politics, etc., it has not been connected yet. Nearly a year has passed since the installation was completed. As it was, huge regulatory hurdles had to be overcome to get it built at all.

Until the financial, regulatory and political barriers are dropped, alternative energy will go nowhere in this country. And I believe that energy independence is one of the most important goals we, as a country need to achieve. We need to invest heavily, including using public resources, to use as much renewable energy as we can (and I am very conservative politically).