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Solar Energy in Southern Arizona Report - September 2007

Solar Report Cover

The Solar Energy in Southern Arizona Report features a hyperlinked table of contents.

Click here for an Executive Summary of the report.

Introduction to Solar Energy in Southern Arizona

The Community Solar Energy Initiative report, Solar Energy in Southern Arizona, provides a snapshot of the current status of solar energy in Southern Arizona. In the Summer of 2007 Congresswoman Giffords’ staff met extensively with solar energy experts from across the continuum – solar installers, utility representatives, environmentalists, university researchers, environmental education specialists, solar industry advocates, local and state elected officials, and more. After many revisions, a draft was presented to Congresswoman Giffords’ Solar Advisory Council in August, and the final report was released on September 14, 2007, in conjunction with Tucson’s first Alternative Energy Expo.

The report includes a number of action steps that could jump start solar energy in the region. Achieving these steps will require all parties to honestly examine the obstacles and challenges that could delay the growth of solar energy usage in the region, and the state.

Among the most important action steps that are recommended:

Market Growth:

  1. Extend the federal solar energy investment tax credits for homeowners and businesses through 2016;
  2. Encourage full implementation of the Renewable Energy Standard Tariff (REST);
  3. Implement state incentives that attract new solar businesses to the state, and that help assure the economic success of existing businesses; and
  4. Extend Federal investment tax credits for utilities.

Research and Development:

  1. Develop cost effective and efficient solar energy generation;
  2. Devise new and improve existing technologies for storage capacity;
  3. Research new methods of energy transmission; and
  4. Establish a “bricks and mortar” research center dedicated to solar energy.

Education and Outreach:

  1. Organize and coordinate educational resources on solar energy and disseminate it through existing networks—environmental associations, school districts, library interconnections, science teacher organizations, neighborhood and homeowner’s associations, and faith-based communities;
  2. Encourage partnerships between educators and businesses to create funding for professional development for teachers on solar education;
  3. Promote Federal funding to install solar in all public schools; and
  4. Collaborate with the Arizona Department of Education to include solar in state standards.

The Solar Energy in Southern Arizona report is an important first step in a long-term process. The action steps included in the document are intended to keep solar magic growing in Southern Arizona, with people from a wide range of disciplines dedicated to mining the potential and working together honestly and diligently toward the greater good of our region.