Martin LaMonica at CNET’s Green Tech Blog ran an interesting piece on Friday, highlighting the absence of solar from Congress’s recent and much-debated economic stimulus package. But there’s really not much of a story here.
Solar is going to continue to be as contentious in Washington as other green issues for some time to come. The case for shifting away from a carbon economy has not yet convinced a great deal of American voters and legislators, and while they need to be convinced as quickly as possible there is going to be a need for compromise until then. On some points, such as cooperation with other nations in reducing emissions, and broad and substantial legislation to advance clean energy, there are clearly times to take a stand. But a high-profile stimulus package is neither the time nor the place, for any number of reasons.
One can argue the merits of whether a stimulus is necessary to help with a possible recession, but once the decision is made then the obvious imperative is for quick, effective action. That’s why checks will be arriving in only a few months in American households. Holding up the whole process for the lobbying of one industry - solar, in this case - would have been silly, and aided no one involved; supporters of solar’s inclusion would have been accused of stalling and selfishness, and the accompanying acrimony would have at the worst prevented a bill from being passed and at best thrown a bitter taste into a refreshing case of bi-partisan cooperation on the Hill.
Moreover, solar wasn’t the only party or interest excluded, nor was anyone expecting that the stimulus package would be the opportunity for all outstanding questions of economic policy to be settled. And nothing in the statement quoted for CNET’s article, from the Solar Energy Industries Association, expresses disappointment with the stimulus package specifically.
Unquestionably, the federal tax credit for solar must be renewed past 2008. But there is quite a lot of time to do that, and making a fight of it during the frenzy around the stimulus package might have been the worst conceivable time to do so. Contrary to CNET, I see no reason to view this as a defeat for solar.
I think it’s good to look at the less histrionic side of this outcome, certainly; this isn’t solar going off a cliff or anything. On the other hand, I think it’s dangerous to assume that there’s more than enough time to ensure the tax credit extends past 2008, with no breach of availability. Congress has only another few months with a lame duck president, and then must adjust to a new one with a new agenda. Not forgetting the summer recess, and the fact that drawing up new bills is an incredibly lengthy and contentious process. I do hope that this issue can transcend party lines to be a priority for everyone–but it isn’t there yet, and there’s no telling how much longer that will take. I agree, Eric, that this wasn’t a defeat for solar, but I do think it was a setback.