Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and solar business executives have teamed with Environment America to present a plan for solar energy to meet 10% of the U.S.’ energy needs by 2030.

Thereport, called "Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes,Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy," examines a wide variety ofsolar technologies and tools, including photovoltaics, concentratingsolar power, solar water heaters, solar space heating and passive solardesign.

According to the report, obtaining 10% of the U.S.’power from solar energy within two decades is equivalent to the energythat the U.S. currently produces at nuclear power plants, more thanhalf the energy currently consumed in American cars and light trucks,or nearly half as much energy as the country currently obtains fromburning coal.

Environment America called on local, state andfederal governments to commit to expanding solar energy. The group’srecommendations include investing in solar technologies, research anddevelopment; requiring that utilities obtain more of their electricityfrom renewable resources; requiring that building codes move toward allnew buildings using zero net-energy; and educating the public andtraining an effective workforce.

The plan’s supporters includeJamie Resor, chief financial officer at installation firm groSolar, andAnthony Clifford, CEO of Gaithersburg, Md.-based Standard Solar.

Source