Solar power will provide California's low income citizens with financial relief

Original source:
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/community/story/11308623p-12057919c.html

Summary:

• These past weeks, Americans finally were forced to see, up close and in focus, some of the poorest in our country because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• Hurricane Katrina has compelled us to look at the urban poor and has given us the urgency to act.
• California has the opportunity to take real action and demonstrate that it has a cost-effective way to reduce burdens on the poor by significantly reducing their electricity bills.
• On Sept. 9, California lawmakers passed the landmark Solar Low-income Housing Development bill (Assembly Bill 1383), sponsored by Global Green USA and by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura.
• The Great Valley Center is leading efforts to do the same in the valley.
• This is important, as the poorest Americans will take a disproportionate hit from the energy price increases we face because of the recent hurricanes and other factors.
• According to a recent study, consumer spending on gasoline, fuel oil and natural gas accounts for just 2.4 percent of the income of the richest fifth of households, but 11.2 percent of the America's poorest fifth.
• AB 1383 works by providing affordable-housing developers with a loan program to help finance the shortfall between the cost of a solar system and the monies disbursed through other rebate plans.
• This bill, if it becomes law, also will create jobs -- potentially five to seven times more jobs per unit of energy than natural gas power plants -- while cleaning the air.
• As affordable-housing developments are often the most energy-efficient housing built in our state, increasing solar funding for low-income housing further increases that payback and benefit to all Californians.
• Let those affected give us the urgency to act to support the creation of smart and lower direct costs for the poor.

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