Mercury News Makes Plea for Extending Solar Tax Credit

Normally I like to write about the latest in the world of solar technology, and I’ll stick to that by pointing you towards this fascinating Economist article about the possibility of a solar cell that makes use of infared light, as opposed to the good old-fashioned visible light spectrum. Way, way too early to tell if this will be viable, but a great bit of experimentation all the same.

I’d be foolish, however, not to point out a gem in today’s San Jose Mercury News, which makes a straightforward and impassioned case for extending the solar tax credit. It’s great to see a major newspaper hit hard on the issue like this. The editorial closes with a simple point:

America is vulnerable to oil price spikes and unstable petrocrats. Extending the credit is good for the valley’s economy and America’s security.

When you look at the case for extending the credit, it has to center on that. Solar projects spur the kind of investment and growth that helps out many sectors of the economy, and the net result is pushing America one step closer to a cleaner and safer future. Lawmakers and commentators who are nominally in support of renewable energy and a cleaner planet need to step up and take the steps necessary to provide the subsidies and support that will actually help us gain more renewable energy and a cleaner planet. Until that credit passes, we can’t be sure that the solar industry will be able to grow at the rates it should in the next few years.