Comment Log Display

Sunny California: the moniker that is one of the reasons I moved to
this state 20 years ago.  Beautiful weather and temperate climate
provide an environment made for widespread deployment of a powerful
weapon in the fight against climate change and for clean air: solar
energy.  It seems like a no-brainer that the state known for it's
pleasant weather would be an ideal place to combat emissions and
pollution leveraging a natural climate resource.  Fight climate
change with climate, if you will.

Germany, hardly an undeveloped country with a low energy grid
demand, made history in 2014 by tapping solar power for more than
50% of it's total energy grid needs for a couple of days in June of
that year.

http://theweek.com/speedreads/451299/germany-gets-50-percent-electricity-from-solar-first-time

This is impressive for any modern nation, but even moreso when you
look at the meager solar potential available in it's territory by
comparison:

http://solargis.info/imaps/ 

The German people haven't exactly had to tighten their belts and
endure hardship to reach this state of solar grid deployment.  With
excellent transportation infrastructure, national healthcare for
all citizens and a high GDP one has to wonder why the United
States, much less California, isn't out ahead of this.  The only
state in the US which has lower "solar mining" potential than
Germany is Alaska.  Take some time to explore that solar map link
above.  Take all the time you need.  Then, ask yourself, why aren't
we *doing* this?

Another powerful method to combat climate change with the roofs
over our heads in limiting heating and cooling energy requirements
and, sometimes, create a little something for the dinner table, are
green roof initiatives.  From residences to grocery stores,
buildings around the world are putting a little mother nature on
top of tar and paper.  Organizations such as Brightfarms(.com)
partner with supermarkets to grow urban farm-fresh produce a few
dozen feet from where they are sold.  This not only provides
substantial insulation for the supermarket and extra-fresh produce
for their customers but shortens the supply chain and removes
transportation energy consumption.  Roof-to-table.  Why is this
happening more in Chicago and Boston than in California?

Recently some cities around the globe have begun to require new
construction to have solar or green roof treatment.  Cities as
diverse as Hamburg, Germany, Basel, Switzerland, Toronto, Canada
and San Francisco here in California have crafted regulations and
initiatives, a combination of carrot and stick, to push the rooftop
revolution forward.  France has considered national legislation
along these lines.  This type of program should be elevated to a
statewide one to reach toward our emissions targets.

Solar or green, or better yet, a combination of the two, can take a
large bite out of emissions created by energy production and
transportation.  California has historically been a world leader in
environmental action and set the standard others follow.  The
challenge has never been greater, and the forces aligned against
the clean energy movement now stretch all the way to the White
House.  Despite that, I firmly believe that by mining our great
natural solar resource we can make powerful advances toward a
cleaner future.  Investment in our untapped roofs in this challenge
will certainly bear fruit, or at least herbs and vegetables.