Four Birds, One Stone

As the New Administration grapples with creating new jobs, attacking global warming and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, they should examine "The Berkley Plan".

When the City of Berkley, California decided to push renewable energy in the form of solar and energy efficiency they created a program that allowed homeowners to install solar panels, solar water heaters, energy efficient windows and doors, high seer A/C's, etc. for no out of pocket cost. The cost was assessed on their property tax for a set period of time for the home and if the home was sold the tax burden transferred with the sale. Berkley was able to procure low-interest bonds to promote the program.

This administration should roll out a national program based on this model that would achieve putting folks to work immediately, cutting down green house gases and cut our dependence on foreign oil. This program could be implemented immediately and the added tax burden to the homeowners would be offset by the reduced energy cost.

Retrofitting American homes and businesses could reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy by up to 50%, while creating millions of new jobs in our communities. While Washington struggles with ideas of how to quickly stimulate the economy, this program could be rolled out quickly, with the government's help thru government guaranteed, low interest bonds and tax incentives to property owners. The government should also consider allowing us to tap into our 401k's for some of this investment. A very good case can be made that this investment would out perform anything Wall Street has to offer.

In a few years when the new hybrid vehicles are available we will be able to recharge our vehicles from the sun at our homes and businesses, further reducing our carbon footprint.

This program, aside from creating jobs, helping the environment, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, may also solve the credit crisis by providing incentives to banks to start loaning money again with the government's backing. This program could add trillions of dollars to our G.D.P. and allow us to become the world's leader on renewable energy.

In the next few years, we will have the ability to de-couple our energy sources from the traditional power plants to millions of homes and businesses that can become small, clean, producers of our electrical needs.

For other topics on home or business electrical needs, please follow the links under Morrissette Electric Learning Center on the menu.