Among the major Islamic states, only Iran and Iraq have resisted economic and political coercion and refuse to recognize Israel as a state. By now, it should be clear to all thinking Americans that the Bush-Blair war in Iraq is the Bush payoff for the Jewish bloc vote in his first and hopefully second elections.
In Iraq ... something went wrong. Iraq took more than 40 days. We now need another 20,000 (troops) to turn around and take on Iran.
Now the question is before the American people: Are we still willing to sacrifice 1,000 (soldiers) a year for the next several years to fight Israel’s war with Iraq and Iran? Already, Americans have said no.
The commander-in-chief keeps creating bogeymen so he can be a dictator to those who feel we must pursue boogeymen. This dictator says “go” and we go.
John O. Legreid Santa Monica
Starting a local solar revolution
Editor:
Joe Bates is absolutely right (“Better ways to soak up funds,” page 4, Jan. 9): If the goal for Solar Santa Monica were to retrofit 50 buildings in Santa Monica with solar ... we’d be wasting city funds by paying a consulting firm nearly a half million bucks.
But that isn’t the goal of the program. Instead, Solar Santa Monica is seeking a solar transformation in which energy self-sufficiency becomes the norm, affordable and easy for all Santa Monica residents and businesses. This involves maximizing energy efficiency throughout the city, adorning thousands of buildings with solar systems, and installing local “clean” generation wherever possible. By 2020, Santa Monica intends to produce as much electricity as it needs.
Consider the following: There are 17,500 rooftops in Santa Monica and only 68 solar installations in town … less than a half a percent of the building stock. And we are ahead of the game. Statewide, California has some 23,000 solar installations, less than a quarter of a percent of the residential building stock. And why is that?
Solar Santa Monica began with some local market research: 100 percent of the diverse focus group participants want solar… but none are willing to invest over $20,000 to get it. This first cost and 12- and 15-year paybacks are prohibitive, so is the process. While Bates is right, the solar sun is rising, accelerating “the market” requires a new approach.
In the next two years, Solar Santa Monica aims to make every home and business owner aware of his or her opportunity for energy-smart investments. In addition to the 50 demonstration sites, we will spur over 10,000 energy actions in the community, saving consumers millions of dollars and avoiding the release of hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gasses.
By bundling efficiency and solar, and developing an installer network to ease the process, payback periods drop below 10 years. We’re working on special Solar Santa Monica financing, making it possible for participants to take action with no money down. And all the solar systems that will get installed will generate power for 40-50 years.
Solar Santa Monica is about taking responsible energy actions today — far ahead of the market– supporting local economic development, assuring energy security, and setting an example for California and the entire United States.
Susan Munves Energy and Green Buildings Program Administrator City of Santa Monica
