Solar
power: current developments
JAPAN
Japan
is the world solar leader.Starting
in the mid-1990’s, the government began subsidizing more than half the
cost of PV (photovoltaic) solar paneling for the average homeowner and
combined with strict air pollution laws achieved big advances.By
2002,they had achieved 144,000 roof
installations.As a result costs
dropped substantially, by about 70%.So
government subsidies can now (in 2006) be phased out.Kyocera
recently launched its solar modules that double as roof shingles.
The
Japanese government now projects that 50% of the country’s power supply
will come from solar by 2030.
GERMANY
Since
the late 1990’s (when the SD-Green coalition came to power), government
encouragement of renewables has caused solar power production to increase
twenty-fold in six years.By law
any producer of electricity from renewables, including homeowners, who
feed power back into the regular network, are paid a higher rate than that
paid for fossil fuel based electricity.This
law is to remain in effect for 20 years.German
builders are now looking how they can build solar into their development
plans for new homes, stores or factories
Germany
has set its goals for increasing renewables’ use so that they will constitute
20% of the country’s total power supply by 2020 and 50% by 2050.
CALIFORNIA
California
is currently engaged in implementing a plan that aims to have 1 million
rooftops solar by 2018, using various incentives.
CHINA
China
has pledged to generate 10% of its energy from renewables by 2010.
CHICAGO
The
Chicago Solar Partnership (which includes city, state and federal partners)
is promoting solar energy, especially on public buildings, such as schools,
museums and community centers and at the airport.Mayor
Daley’s energetic promotion of trees is also well known.
All of above from Co-op
America Quarterly, Summer 2005
BURLINGTON,
VT, PORTLAND, OR and other
citieshave pioneered in the
area of global warming.
More than 400
mayors and Village Presidents have signed this agreement to implement the
Kyoto Protocol.Signatories include
New York, Miami, Chicago, Denver.
The
Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, an
international group, led by the Mayor of London, is seeking big city solutions
for global warming. (NYT, 8/2/06)
GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY
Governors
State University in University Park, IL, has installed a solar thermal
collector that will heat 3,200 gallons of water, meeting most of the University’s
hot water needs, including its swimming pool.This
is the largest such installation in Illinois so far. (Chicago Tribune,
4/21/06, Sec. 2, p.3)
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