Tech Policy Girl

To content | To menu | To search

Energy Reform

Entries feed - Comments feed

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Energy Secretary Chu on the Daily Show

By Suki Kott on Wednesday 22 July 2009, 21:50

To Jon Stewart, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is the only cabinet member that seems alive. A self-proclaimed nerd, Chu is entertaining and funny, (in a nerd-like way,) on last night's episode of The Daily Show.

Chu mentioned that he supports the 'overall concept' of cap and trade and that this program gives the US a great opportunity to be a leader in the 'new industrial revolution'.

He went on to say that white roofs and roads would have a profound effect on global warming -- the equivalent of taking the world's one billion cars off the road for 11 years. While I feel skeptical about this claim I'm not about to challenge a Nobel Prize winner. Was that all the roofs and roads in the US or the world over? He didn't specify.

And here's Secretary Chu's explanation of the benefits of white roofs:

no comment no trackback

Saturday 20 September 2008

Berkeley Providing Loans for Solar

By Suki Kott on Saturday 20 September 2008, 08:54

The Berkeley city council has unanimously approved a proposal to give homeowners loans to install solar panels on their homes. The loan would be paid off over 20 years via an additional charge of $180 per month on their property taxes. If the property is sold, the new owners assume the loan. The city is starting with a pilot of 50 homes initially.

The program sounds good (though I'd rather save 20K myself over the next ten years than pay 40K over 20), but depending on the timing of the program, and given where the credit market is headed, my question would be how the city of Berkeley is going to find the capital to do this. Program information is here.

no comment no trackback