THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
www.cagreens.org
Thursday, September 1, 2005
Contact: Sara Amir, spokesperson 310.270-7106 saraamir@earthlink.net
Stuart Bechman 805-405-3929 sbechman@sbcglobal.net
Susan King 415.823-5524 funking@mindspring.com
Beth Moore Haines 530.277-0610 beth@ncws.com
Green Party supports solar legislation, calls
'green energy' a 'human right' and backs labor livable wage demand for
workers
SACRAMENTO (September 1, 2005) - The Green Party
of California today affirmed its full support for legislation designed
to boost alternative energy resources - a "Million Solar Roofs
Initiative" - noting that "green energy" should be
considered a "human right."
The bill's goal would be to place one million
solar energy systems on new and existing residential and commercial
structures in 10 years, and solar energy systems on 50 percent of the
new home developments in 13 years. New home buyers would be able to
choose solar energy as an option, with the help of a $5,000 state tax
credit.
Greens have praised the bill since its inception,
saying it was long overdue and would help wean the state from heavily
polluting, oil-dependent electric energy generation.
"Like water, healthcare and mobility, green
energy is arguably a human right, not a commodity. Utilizing on a
massive scale available solar technology to reduce energy costs and
emissions is a giant step forward," said Tom Bolema, a member of
the GPCA Coordinating Committee from Los Angeles.
The legislation, embraced by the Governor early on
and with strong bipartisan support, has run into some hurdles this
past week when labor was able to add amendments to require union
workers in larger commercial projects.
While business special interests, including the
governor, have expressed doubts about this development and are now
signaling they may not support the bill, the GPCA said it fully backs
the need for livable wages.
"Two key values of the Green Party are
sustainability and social justice. Rather than a conflict, we find it
entirely consistent that workers receive fair wages for helping build
our energy independence," said Erika McDonald, San Francisco
Green Party spokesperson.
