A bipartisan, solar-energy legislative proposal deserves strong support. With the need for clean energy becoming more apparent and the costs of solar continuing to drop, increased reliance on solar energy has become a no-brainer. Two impediments to solar have been potential impact on land use and inequitable distribution. House Bill 1814 addresses both issues by promoting solar use among existing structures and providing opportunities for low-income households and renters to enjoy the benefits of solar.
My wife and I, lifetime Washington residents, have benefitted from installing solar in our home. But this option remains out of reach for many of our fellow citizens. The legislative proposal would fund community solar projects that benefit low-income households, including renters. This matters because over a third of Washingtonians rent their homes (according to the U.S. Census Bureau).
The need for solar energy can, at times, conflict with other land-use priorities such as agriculture, development and preservation. The legislative proposal would help alleviate some of this pressure by promoting solar energy among “preferred sites.” Preferred sites include rooftops, structures, landfills, brownfields, previously developed sites, irrigation canals and ponds, stormwater collection ponds, industrial areas, dual-use projects that ensure ongoing agricultural operations, and other sites that do not displace critical habitat or productive farmland.
Most of us are aware of the urgent need for affordable clean energy. House Bill 1814 moves us down that path while minimizing conflicts and promoting equity.
William McClain
Lynnwood
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