Sen. Barack Obama Tours PV Powered Facility in Oregon

May 12, 2008 | 6 Comments

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) campaigned in Oregon over the weekend as part of the lead up to the state's Democratic Presidential Primary on May 20. Part of his trip included a tour of PV Powered's manufacturing facility in Bend, Oregon.

Sen. Obama called PV Powered and other renewable energy companies the "workshop of the future" and pledged to invest US $150 billion over 10 years in renewable energy, a figure that could help create 5 million new jobs. He also criticized presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's stance on energy policy and renewable energy.

"He [Sen. McCain] voted repeatedly against mandates to ensure that we use more renewable energy and a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) continues to be blocked in part because people like John McCain aren't interested in it...In my proposals, I've called for a replication of what's being done right here in Oregon, a 25% RPS for the entire nation. That's why I have consistently urged that we go ahead and pass the 30% investment tax credit that is so important for making sure that companies like PV Powered continue to prosper and thrive," Sen. Obama said.

To see Sen. Obama's speech, play the video below.

6 Comments

Mary Saunders
May 15, 2008

Tax credits are better than subsidies. Subsidies get given to cronies.

The consumer herself has to take responsibility for her choice of supplier and installer. If it goes right, she has supported the best providers. If it goes wrong, she cannot blame taxpayers. Because politicians insulate themselves from responsibility, she can't sue them either. (I wish she could)

The corn fiasco here is because of horrific subsidy policies in farm legislation. David Blume has pointed out we have enough biomass to make plenty of alcohol. Corn is an incredibly silly thing to feed to animals, never mind feeding it to humans to fuel our bloated medical-care system.

If only we could stop subsidizing corruption.

Steven Balusik
May 14, 2008

I am glad to see Obama speaking about this subject. Hopefully when he is president he will be very aggressive towards proactive legislation and use his new position as a bully pulpit to wake up the general population to environmental and renewable energy issues. I talk about these issues often in my blog: sensibleenergy.blogspot.com

larry jeppesen
May 14, 2008

The candidates all say they are in favor of renewable energy. Let's have some concrete plans.

Here in Nevada, the Gov. has filed for divorce and is living in his private home, wifey in mansion.

We need solar and wind. The only wind we get is from the Repugs!!

Sun shines all the time, lots of wind.

Help!!!

Andy Ludwig
May 14, 2008

one can only hope :-)

Kevin Rawson
May 14, 2008

Enough inducements are already out there. Early predictions were that 10% of the corn crop would go to renewables, they actually got 25% with a number of farmers switching. Screwed up the Food Market. OOPS!

Get renewables self sufficient as soon as possible especially the sand bagging solar people. The Arabs keep testing the waters by dirving up oil prices, you thing we would not have to offer incentives. Check out Brazil man- switch grass especially on land that is not farmable by other crops.

Hey Exxon - you stink of market manipulation. You risk US ports being flooded with your crude with out giving back to the consumer & people who allow it. Shame on you.! !!!

Dauda Abdulkadiri
May 13, 2008

I am happy to contribute to this very site, Sen. Obama has a plan to change American and prove to the world that the best way of life is been focus and live green. All his contribution at the house are things that we should considered and give him a total surpport to see that that change is effected.
PV powered has gone far and need every surpport to see that in the near future the contribution of solar to energy is reached. the world must go green hence the need to put in more effort towards the continue growth of Renewable energy generation.
regards
Dauda
UK