Articles by Adam Browning

Florida PSC votes to establish a state renewable portfolio standard

My colleague Gwen Rose has spent a large part of the last two years working -- with a coalition of allies -- on a solar program for Florida. One would think solar in the sunshine state would be an easy sell, but it's been a rather tough slog.

Which is why we are pleased to report some good news. On Friday night, the Florida Public Service Commission voted unanimously to support a 20% by 2020 renewable portfolio standard.

We anticipate the program would establish about $300 million a year for solar. That's a big deal.

The fight now moves to the legislature, but for the moment, congrats to the many people who worked long and hard to put the sun in the sunshine state.

New York governor calls for green jobs, renewable energy, and energy efficiency to stimulate economy

President-elect Barack Obama isn't the only elected official talking about using green jobs to stimulate the economy -- the theme is echoed in state houses as well. On Wednesday, New York Governor David Paterson (D) gave his State of the State (the acronym SOS fits so well), a sober assessment of the economic challenges facing the state followed by a call to action that includes, among other things, an ambitious investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency to "help rebuild our economy, meet our energy needs, and protect our environment." (The 45 percent by 2015 goal he references almost certainly includes pre-existing hydro.)

But in Albany, as everywhere else, talk is cheap, and the governor is going to need the the help of the legislature and the Public Service Commission to get anything done. If you live in New York and would like to let policymakers know that you support the Governor's call to action, you can take action here.

Solar’s bright ideas for the green stimulus package

Carrying on one of the most annoying campaign memes (and boy is that bar high) into current policy discussions, the New York Times published an article that begins with the line: Move over Joe the Plumber. Spencer the Solar Installer is here. Every group under the sun has ideas for how their issue could be […]

My father installed a solar system and radiant-heat floor in his barn

A couple of years ago, my folks retired. Pops ripped out the bottom of the barn on the old family farm, set up a woodshop, and got to work. Check out his stuff here. Nice, eh? I’m pleased to say that Pops’s pots are now solar heated. With no urging from yours truly, he installed […]