Arizona lawmaker says greater coordination is needed among industry, government, non-profit organizations and academia
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords called solar energy a vast but only partially-tapped resource that can help the country confront many of the major challenges of the 21st century.
In a presentation to the National Academy of Sciences, the Arizona lawmaker said making greater use of solar energy could boost economic competitiveness, foster energy independence and address global climate change.
“When it comes to solar we have a tremendous opportunity that we’ve barely begun to develop,” Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, told more than 300 people on Wednesday in Washington.
But Giffords noted that other countries also are aware of this opportunity and are moving quickly to take advantage of it. She said the result is that the United States is no longer the leader in solar manufacturing and Germany leads the world in using solar energy.
“People often assume that I’m pro-solar because Arizona has great solar resources, and sure that’s part of it,” said Giffords. “But virtually the entire U.S. has excellent solar potential and just about everywhere in the U.S. receives more sun than anywhere in Germany.”
Tapping the full potential of solar energy, however, will require more than just technological know-how, Giffords said. Greater coordination and cooperation among private industry, government, non–profit organizations and academic institutions is essential.
“If the solar industry is ever to achieve its full potential, good technology is not enough,” she said. “We must get the policy right as well. With international competitors chomping at the bit and making big investments, we don’t have time to waste.”
Giffords called on the solar industry to get organized, assume a greater role in policy debates, work more closely with other renewable energy industries, and educate the public about the far-reaching benefits of solar energy.
“Legislative debates shift when a new piece of information rises to the level of conventional wisdom,” she said. “We need to get it firmly ingrained in the public’s mind that solar works and it presents a better alternative.”
The congresswoman’s presentation to the National Academy is available on the solar energy page of her website.