Good News and Bad News

First the good news. Another new solar coop is forming–in Petworth! I spoke at their first organizational meeting yesterday! It seems to be a great group. They have started a listserve for petworth —petworthgreencoop@yahoogroups.com so please pass the word on to others.

Bad News! Right after we thought we won (or were winning) the battle to make sure the DC Solar program stays funded. The Mayor comes out with a new proposed budget for 2011! That cuts half the money from solar and guts the Sustainable Energy Utility which is the organization the DC Council created to manage future renewable and efficiency programs in the City. So PLEASE email your council member — sign up to testify!

Write to the Mayor and the DC Council — membersonly@dccouncil.us and tell them to disapprove the proposed cuts to the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund in the Mayor’s FY ’11 Supplemental Budget. Please write your own message or cut and paste the message below!

My name is _______________________. I am a member of (______ Solar Coop or other). I am extremely disappointed that the Mayor’s current proposed budget for 2011 removes $13 million — about 60% from programs designed to promote green energy and green jobs. We need to build an energy future. Not be held back by the past! Of the $2 million statutorily allocated for the Renewable Energy Incentive Program, only about half remains or $1.1 million.

Testify against the cuts to the SETF at the Budget Hearings on April 30, 2010, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Room 500 at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.; to do this, contact Aukima Benjamin of Councilmember Cheh’s office at 202.724.4902 and ask to be listed as a public witness to testify at the Budget Hearings that will be held on DDoE’s budget on April 30, 2010.