California deserves better solar power


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Death Valley National Park is a place so hot, gold prospectors named it after the thing they feared most.

What life could the unrelenting sun allow, let alone support? Now, more than a century later, we have a brilliant answer. California has set up an $800,000 solar panel array in the national park. It would reduce park costs by an estimated 70 percent.

So far, the state has been unable to agree with Southern California Edison, California’s chief electricity supply company, to introduce this and dozens of other similar solar power arrays into their grid.

USC has many environmentally conscious students. We should be able to help raise awareness of this issue.

SCE has the potential to perk up the state economy and further our goal of relying on renewable energy. What’s the problem, then?

The main stumbling block is federal law, which limits agencies from agreeing to contracts that leave them liable to future spending. Agreeing to such contracts would mean committing money that Congress hasn’t allocated.

However, there are ways around this restriction. Yosemite has been able to connect after agreeing with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. It estimates that it will save $50,000 on electricity bills.

The Governor’s Office sent its adviser on renewable energy to help hammer out the differences. Attorneys in the Interior Department’s solicitor’s office have been brought in to help resolve the issue. Yet so far, it hasn’t been enough.

The state of California is in a difficult position. But just like the nation, California has been striving to solidify its position as a jewel amid its peers.

This project takes us one large step toward this goal. Unfortunately, it seems that the same short-sightedness that brought about the state’s current difficulties are getting in the way of progress.

Californians have already done their part — we have provided the tax dollars to support these energy structures. We, as students, might not be able to directly resolve this issue. But the solidarity of our student associations can raise awareness, push for resolution and continue the state’s drive for improvement.

 

Daniel Grzywacz is a sophomore majoring in neuroscience and anthropology. His column, “72 Degrees and Shaking,” runs Wednesdays.