The
Massachusetts legislature intends to produce an
omnibus energy bill - but it is clear that this
will not happen this year. As public pressure
(that's us, many of us) increases to remove
barriers to the growth of solar energy (net
metering caps), and time is running out for
legislative action this year (basically, the
Nov. 18th Thanksgiving holiday break is the
effective deadline), there comes some very
important news.
House
Speaker Robert DeLeo said on Friday, Oct.
23rd, "I'm well aware obviously that
the energy legislation is probably going to be
taking a little bit longer than I had expected
and looks like it's probably going to extend
into next year," according to an audio clip of
his remarks. "Because of that, I have asked the
chairman of the committee on energy to make sure
we take out of that bill so we can address it in
a much shorter time issues relative to solar
energy so we can take care of that more
immediately this year and not
next."
Speaker
DeLeo is talking about the net metering caps, it
would seem, because it is the burning issue
related to solar energy. With three or four
weeks to go to actually get some legislation
done, the timing is crucial that we let our
voices be heard this week.
**
Call this Thursday - we are teaming together to
get more than 300 phone calls in one
day
Simply
call and tell your representative to "raise
the caps on net metering before Thanksgiving".
Here is a guide from another Mass Power Forward
partner, VoteSolar.org
Plan some time to do this on
Thursday, Oct. 29th - and spread the word: see
if you can double or triple your efforts by
having a friend, colleague, family member or two
make calls to help move the House to act and
restore opportunity for continued solar growth.
The Senate has already voted to do this, and New
York has just removed their caps, as they also
work on a broader energy vision
plan.
** The three easy steps for your
call on Thursday (or before)
are:
1. Call the House
Switchboard (617) 722-2000 - ask to be put
through to your
Representative
2. Say to them: "Raise the caps on
net metering before Thanksgiving so solar
can continue to grow"
3. Get a friend to do the same and
report back to help us keeps tabs - email
se...@votesolar.org
Take part in a renewable
energy future by participating in this
effort to promote solar
power!
-
- - - - - - -
To
Be Announced...
Boston Area Solar Energy
Association's November Forum will be announced
soon. There are a lot of positive developments
happening, so plan on a rich discussion at BASEA
on Thursday, November
12th.
| 
