Issue Position: Solar Power for Schools

Issue Position

Washington still doesn't get it - that corporate welfare for the likes of Solyndra, General Electric, and NextEra Energy is not the way to create jobs, reduce dependence on imported oil, reduce global warming, or advance the adoption of renewable energy. It is nothing but "supply side" economics under the pretense of doing good. It just doesn't work.

Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars bailing out venture capitalists and subsidizing large corporations, why not help out cash-strapped local schools?

Fairfax County Public Schools spends $9 million to $12 million per year on fuel for buses and service vehicles. Joe supports spending federal dollars to do the government's work and not on corporate welfare. He would use federal programs to promote green energy technologies to replace school buses and other state and local government vehicles with electric versions and provide millions in annual savings to taxpayers. We are not talking one or two buses as current "demonstration" programs do, but replacing entire fleets over a five- or ten-year period. In conjunction with this, to prevent the need for additional electricity from coal-fueled power plants, which is the major source many utilities' electric power, the federal government should also support the installation of roof-top solar panels to generate the equivalent amount of electricity needed to run the new electric vehicles.

By eliminating fuel costs and reducing maintenance expenses, this would free million of dollars of the school budget to be used for the classroom. In addition, it would reduce greenhouse gases, reduce the need for imported oil, and reduce the trade deficit. Keeping more dollars in the U.S. creates more jobs for America. Smart spending reduces the cost of government, supports multiple policy objectives; and provides a return to the taxpayer.

So why aren't we doing this?

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