The government has told us that the biggest problem facing the poor ranges from everything from a sub-$15 minimum wage to “food deserts” where there’s no fresh, healthy produce to be found. The White House, though, is ready to try a new approach to assisting the poor: increasing the use of solar panels in low-income housing.
New US plan: #Residential #solar for #poor Americans http://t.co/XzfecdBcih via @CNBC pic.twitter.com/QaxmznWVdx
— James Giannantonio (@jjgiannantonio) July 7, 2015
White House wants to increase the use of solar power in low-income and subsidized housing: http://t.co/UfRjszGada pic.twitter.com/twFmFPEIzd
— The Hill (@thehill) July 7, 2015
President Obama is taking action to expand access to solar for all Americans: https://t.co/6Ut85BDBSO #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/MN4UCX0HDB
— Brian Deese NARA (@Deese44) July 7, 2015
The administration released a fact sheet today detailing the White House’s plan, which it says “will help continue to scale up solar for all Americans, including those who are renters, lack the startup capital to invest in solar, or do not have adequate information on how to transition to solar energy.”
President Obama also believes the initiative will allow him to meet his stated goal to train 75,000 workers to enter the solar industry by 2020. Best of all, the solar energy industry “is also setting its own, independent goal of becoming the most diverse sector of the U.S. energy industry, and a number of companies are announcing that they are taking steps to build a more inclusive solar workforce.”
Recommended
Wouldn’t you know: Sen. Bernie Sanders — who recently called out the president on his record-low unemployment figures — is again undercutting the president by introducing his own legislation to provide solar energy to the poor and stick it to the Koch brothers. President Obama wants to provide two free years of community college? Sanders had pledged a free ride at all state colleges and universities. Socialism!
Sanders wants to increase the poor's access to solar power: http://t.co/k2fQejTZrX pic.twitter.com/h9cuTLFIA1
— The Hill (@thehill) July 7, 2015
@thehill At who's expense….the taxpayer, more un-repayable debt. It's clowns like this that have made the world a very dangerous place…
— Henry Parker Willis (@RangerHondo) July 7, 2015
@thehill And since they can't afford it once again the few who pay taxes will be required to fund this.
— Constitutionalist (@patriot_first) July 7, 2015
The 2016 presidential candidate introduced legislation Tuesday that would establish a fund under the Department of Energy that would either help pay for the installation of solar panels for low-income families who own their home or loan money to organizations that want to provide access for low-income families to solar facilities.
The fund would also prioritize loans from woman- or minority-owned small business, according to a fact sheet from Sanders’ office, as well as reserve funding for solar facilities on Indian tribal lands, the Appalachia region and Alaskan native communities.
.@thehill Well, that'll really put food on the table.
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) July 7, 2015
Join the conversation as a VIP Member