Tucson lawmaker to outline plans to make Arizona the Silicon Valley of solar energy
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Friday will launch a major initiative aimed at making Arizona the Silicon Valley of solar energy. The Tucson lawmaker, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, will outline a four-point plan to harness the power of the sun as a key step in achieving American energy independence.
The plan will include:
- Legislative initiatives that authorize investment in solar research, extend homeowner tax credits and make national parks showpieces of solar energy;
- Education initiatives, including monthly seminars to educate the public about solar energy and outreach to school children to engage them in the challenge of global warming and the need for increased solar power use;
- Accountability initiatives, including monitoring the federal government to ensure that it is doing everything it can to promote solar energy; and
- Creation of a Solar Energy Advisory Committee to serve as a think tank of experts from Southern Arizona to advise the congresswoman on solar energy policy, incentives and public-private partnership models
Giffords' announcement will coincide with a roundtable discussion with solar energy experts who will meet at Global Solar Inc., an award-winning manufacturer of portable solar cells used by businesses and the Department of Defense. The congresswoman also plans a tour of the company's plant.Among the roundtable participants will be Col. Kent Laughbaum, the commander of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base; Steve Lynn, vice president at Unisource/Tucson Electric Power; builder John Wesley Miller; and Michael Gering, the president of Global Solar.
Press wishing to cover the roundtable discussion should plan on arriving at 10:30 a.m. Formal announcement of the solar energy initiative and the tour will follow, at approximately noon.
- WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords launches solar power initiative
- WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 27
- WHERE: Global Solar, 5575 S. Houghton Road, near Civano just south of Irvington