The biggest roadblock to the clean energy bill is the cost of implementing it, especially during a bad economy.
A new report from Wisconsin Environment shows the Badger State has the potential to produce a lot of energy from the sun, but is solar cost-competitive?
“The good news is that the price of solar panels have plummeted over recent years, falling 20% in 2009 alone.”
The group’s State Director Dan Kohler says if solar panels are installed on homes and businesses across the state, that would power roughly 2/3 of the state’s homes. Still, there’s the significant up-front cost. Kohler says there are ways around it.
“Many, many people would love to put solar panels on their homes.”
Milwaukee’s common council has recently adopted a solar financing program, allowing folks to pay off their purchases gradually … on their property taxes.
Republican lawmakers and business groups say, “Governor Doyle’s global warming bill,” would greatly increase energy costs, drive jobs out of the state, and put Wisconsin at a disadvantage to other surrounding states.
Supporters hope to have The Clean Energy Jobs Act on the governor’s desk for his signature by the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22.
NOTE: Kohler says Wisconsin is one of just three states in the nation that have two cities in the US Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities partnership. Madison and Milwaukee are provide creative financing options for homeowners and businesses to install solar panels. The Clean Energy Jobs Act being considered in the Legislature would increase the state’s renewable energy requirement from 10% to 25% by 2025.
Jackie Johnson report 1:41