Washington, DC—Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) and Representative Steve Cohen (TN) introduced today the Ten Million Solar Roofs and Ten Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act, which would create a national rebate program for small solar photo voltaic and hot water heating systems installed in the next ten years. Sean Garren, Environment America’s Clean Energy Advocate released the following statement in response:
“The sun provides more energy in an hour than all the coal mines and oil wells do in a year. It is limitless and pollution free. America can and must figure out how to tap the heat and power of the sun. In addition, investments in solar create jobs in a diverse set of fields throughout the supply chain. Senator Sanders and Representative Cohen understand this potential and have introduced a bill that can finally deliver the solar revolution to America.
“As we speak, countries like Germany, Japan and China are moving full speed ahead to develop their solar industries with incentives and mandates. President Obama said that, 'the nation that leads the clean energy economy will lead the global economy,' and that nation should be America, with our vast potential and dedicated, skilled and ready workforce.
“Senator Sanders and Representative Cohen's bill could create more than 500,000 new jobs in solar power, one of the most important and exciting industries of the 21st century, and reduce global warming pollution by more than 36 million tons – the equivalent of the pollution from more than 13 coal-fired power plants. Environment America applauds the Senator and Representative's repeated leadership on clean energy, and we look forward to working with them to enact this visionary bill.”
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Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen funded environmental groups working for clean air, clean water, and open space. www.environmentamerica.org
