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Interview: Why This Tea Party Activist Is Fighting for Solar
Green Tech ^ | September 11, 2014 | Midwest Energy News, Kari Lydersen

Posted on 10/19/2014 6:48:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Debbie Dooley is not a tree-hugger -- in fact she bills herself as a radical right-wing grandmother, and she is a founding member of the national Tea Party and a leader of the Atlanta Tea Party group.

But Dooley is also an outspoken proponent of distributed solar generation and other forms of renewable distributed energy. She will be the featured speaker next week at the Wisconsin Solar Energy Industries Association’s Solar Social Speakers series -- as advocates in the state say solar is under attack by elected officials, regulators and major utilities.

While in Wisconsin, Dooley will also visit a farm using manure digesters -- another form of distributed renewable energy that she thinks would be embraced by many farmers in her home state of Georgia.

Dooley is a founder of the Green Tea Coalition, a conservation-minded wing of the Tea Party, and she has made numerous media appearances on outlets across the political spectrum. She works as an IT administrator and a grassroots consultant, and she served as vice chairman of the Gwinnett County Election and Voter Registration Board.

Dooley spoke with Midwest Energy News before her trip north to Wisconsin.

Midwest Energy News: How did you become interested in renewable energy?

Dooley: I’ve been a political activist off and on since 1976. I was one of the twenty-two national founders of the Tea Party movement. I’m very active with the Atlanta Tea Party, I serve on the board of directors of the Tea Party Patriots, which has not and is not taking a position on solar.

I began to get interested in energy with a fight we were carrying on with Georgia Power. They’re a monopoly here in Georgia. They were not acting in the best interest of ratepayers in regards to some of their policies. They were building two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle, and the utility customers were paying for that in advance. There were massive cost overruns expected, and yet they were making a guaranteed profit on the cost of the two reactors and the cost overruns.

I began to take a closer look at energy for that reason. I’ve always been a free-market conservative. I began to realize a monopoly is not a free market; a monopoly violates free-market principles. Solar is a way to give monopolies very much needed competition. It also provides consumer choice.

I founded the Green Tea Coalition, and I recently founded in the past week Conservatives for Energy Freedom. That’s what I’m advocating for -- energy freedom and energy independence.

Have you been working directly on the issue of third-party-owned solar installations?

Yes, in Georgia we are trying to allow that. Georgia Power is giving us a fight on that. They want to control it. Solar empowers the consumer and the individual. These giant monopolies want to take away that consumer choice unless they can control it. They are looking at their profit margins, not the best interests of ratepayers.

This is about the freedom to choose and create your own electricity. I think [policies that inhibit third-party-owned solar] are a blatant attack by these giant monopolies who at every turn have to construct a power plant, and make a profit off the construction of the power plant.

[If] they have to buy some power from out of state, they pay fair market value -- so why shouldn’t they buy their power from within the state and create jobs for Wisconsinites or whatever state they are in? If we open up the market for solar, there would be little need for them to have to construct more power plants.

The third-party solar that we’re talking about, it is really good for the consumer because that means you don’t have to go out and construct a power plant, it makes the fuel cost simpler, and the utility companies are compensated for the times that solar customers pull power from the grid.

Is it strange for you being so outspoken on this topic since solar and distributed generation advocates are usually seen as liberal or environmentalists?

A lot of companies with fossil fuel interests try to spin it that way. It’s totally ridiculous. If you can’t discredit the message, you go after the messenger.

This is not a liberal issue; it has become a national security issue for our country. The grid can be attacked. Look at the Silicon Valley attack -- they opened fire on some of the substations with AK-47s, took them down, and they just vanished into the night. Our grid is so centralized that it’s a national security issue.

When I started doing research and seeing what We Energies is trying to do in Wisconsin, I was appalled. Here you have a giant utility trying to protect their profit margin by taxing the sun and taxing manure. You can call it whatever you want to, it is a tax. I think that is totally ridiculous.

Do you think your support of solar has extra significance since you are a high-profile conservative activist?

I do. I believe conservatives who believe in the free market would be receptive to the right message. If you go out and say we need solar because of climate change and you hate coal, that’s the wrong message. If you go out and hold elected officials accountable for supporting these monopolies, that’s something conservatives will respond to.

Do you have solar panels or would you like to get them?

I went through a divorce two years ago so I’m renting a house, but you can bet when I purchase a home it will have solar panels. You would be really surprised about conservatives, how many are asking me about solar panels. It empowers the individual and it’s good for the environment. To me, conservation is conservative.

How do you feel about wind energy, since much wind is generated by these large companies?

I would support wind energy as well, though wind does not empower the individual like solar does. You can put solar panels on your rooftop, and as long as you have daylight and a battery, you can power yourself. It’s harder for the individual to do that with wind.

I was at the gym yesterday, watching TV on the treadmill, looking at a report on the History Channel that talked about sugar cane in Hawaii that was used to generate electricity. Anyway we can be energy-independent, I’m all for it. An all-of-the-above approach.

Does Republican opposition to taking action on climate change complicate your mission with this message?

It does. I don’t believe in excessive regulation, like all these regulations we’ve seen with EPA the past few years. I would prefer to allow energy to compete in the free market on a level playing field and let the consumer decide what is best.

I fully believe energies that hurt the environment should be taxed. I don’t believe in a carbon tax; I believe in a cleanup fund like with the BP spill in Gulf.

I’ve advocated from the beginning to cut out massive subsidies that all energy forms have received. Some of the same conservatives that point a finger at Solyndra...failed to point out the massive subsidies coal and nuclear have been receiving since the 1930s. That smacks of hypocrisy. If you’re going to complain about subsidies for wind or solar, why are we still subsidizing nuclear and coal? Subsidies are government’s way of picking winners and losers.

How have such statements been received when you talk to Tea Party or conservative audiences?

I talked at the Tea Party convention and said government should stop picking winners and losers. I got thunderous applause. People are really receptive to the right message when you lay the facts out.

I’ve been attacked by Koch brothers-affiliated groups. [Some] said I was a fake Tea Party person. I just laughed. I am a conservative. There is no way they can paint me as a liberal, even as a moderate -- I am a right-wing conservative.

But I’m extremely passionate about alternative energy. I’m a grandmother, I became a grandmother in 2008 with the birth of a grandson who is the light of my life. I want him to have a clean world, I want him to have parks and green space. I don’t want him to have to worry about terrorist attacks. I want him to be able to breathe clean air. I want him to be able to generate his own electricity if he so chooses.

If he says, “I want to generate my own power and be self-sufficient,” I want him to have the ability to do it.

***

Kari Lydersen is a Chicago-based reporter, author and journalism instructor. She covers energy for Midwest Energy News. This article was originally published at Midwest Energy News and was reprinted with permission.

Debbie Dooley will be appearing at Marshall Auto Body in Waukesha, Wisconsin on Sept. 16 from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., and at SunVest in Pewaukee, Sept. 17 from noon-1 p.m.

Fresh Energy, where Midwest Energy News is based, provided communications support to the Wisconsin Solar Energy Industries Association for Ms. Dooley’s visit.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: economy; energy; green; jobs; teaparty
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Is Debbie for real?

This is very disturbing.

Coal and oil are under attack; jobs and the U.S. economy are being squeezed and this "Tea Party" person is getting in bed with the green environmental movement?

October 17, 2014: Tea party pushing for Florida to step up solar energy efforts

1 posted on 10/19/2014 6:48:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

For over 40 years I’ve dreamed and schemed of better or novel ways to create energy. I’ve come up with some real doosies, but never did gov’t intervention or subsidies (taxpayer $) enter into my thinking.

The single biggest help to the energy industry would be for gov’t to mind their own business. Let the marketplace pick our energy strategy.


2 posted on 10/19/2014 6:57:27 AM PDT by umgud (I couldn't understand why the ball kept getting bigger......... then it hit me.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I don’t have any problems with solar power, as long as it’s not funded via crony capitalism. In fact I would encourage people to do what they can to get off the grid.


3 posted on 10/19/2014 7:06:15 AM PDT by Eric Pode of Croydon
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To: umgud

Imagine you are a utility.
You’ve spent big bucks on a power plant, transmission lines and crews to come out when storms come through.
Suddenly, your dedicated customers want to walk, but see what happens when the crews don’t show...


4 posted on 10/19/2014 7:06:47 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The progression of many movements: idealistic fringe cause —> mainstream movement —> corrupt racket. This lady has moved from fringe cause to corrupt racket without ever advancing her Tea Party chapter to mainstream status. Truly amusing...


5 posted on 10/19/2014 7:08:20 AM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Some of the same conservatives that point a finger at Solyndra...failed to point out the massive subsidies coal and nuclear have been receiving since the 1930s. That smacks of hypocrisy. If you’re going to complain about subsidies for wind or solar, why are we still subsidizing nuclear and coal? Subsidies are government’s way of picking winners and losers.

This woman is either a dupe or a pathological liar.

6 posted on 10/19/2014 7:12:12 AM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Solar has always been “back to the land” for me. It’s as natural as hunting and camping. I am always befuddled at the few Conservatives who get in a twist about it.


7 posted on 10/19/2014 7:14:09 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: Zhang Fei

Reading this lady’s remarks, she’s been in a corruption racket for a long time, looking to piggyback on whatever promotional vehicle she thought would benefit her, personally. She is one of 32 who started the TEA Party?! ROTFL. Just a self-promoter. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I’m concerned, but she ought to sell her wares on the merits, not by association with some “popular” cause.


8 posted on 10/19/2014 7:14:25 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

“I fully believe energies that hurt the environment should be taxed.”

Yeah, define “hurt”.

Another watermelon with a financial interest in high priced energy.


9 posted on 10/19/2014 7:21:01 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: RIghtwardHo

“Solar has always been “back to the land” for me. It’s as natural as hunting and camping. .....”
____________________________________________________________

I agree. Not sure why solar is considered a bad source of power by some folks. There are downsides to most all sources of power...be it solar, hydro, gas, wind, coal or nuclear.

I’m in the all of the above...how can I get it the least expensive way?


10 posted on 10/19/2014 7:26:04 AM PDT by conservaKate ( I grow weary of the goobers in the Republican party. (thanks Chris))
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
This is very disturbing.

Not really. Conservatives aren't opposed to solar energy; we're opposed to government subsidies to promote it.

11 posted on 10/19/2014 7:30:42 AM PDT by BfloGuy ( Even the opponents of Socialism are dominated by socialist ideas.)
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To: Eric Pode of Croydon
I don’t have any problems with solar power, as long as it’s not funded via crony capitalism. In fact I would encourage people to do what they can to get off the grid.

Exactly!!!
12 posted on 10/19/2014 7:34:06 AM PDT by Thorliveshere (Minnesota Survivor)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Just guessing here, but I’d follow the money. Is she a paid consultant to any Solar Power company, group or organization? Does she own an interest in any solar connected entity? Has her group received any large donations because of her support? Does she get financially substantial (to her) speaking fees to solar group meetings.


13 posted on 10/19/2014 7:35:36 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
She is for real. Real stupid. Her beef should be against government controlling utilities and subsidizing uneconomical ventures. Many conservatives seem confused about this. Distributed generation, as with rooftop solar, is a good and valid concept, because it decentralizes control and reduces dependence on the grid.

Conservatives have no reason not to support development of distributed generation in general and solar energy production in particular. The issue should be, to keep solar energy development and implementation in the private sector, and keep the government out.

The problem with "the environmental movement," other than the fact that half of them are certifiably crazy, is that they are a stalking horse for government control and don't really give a sh&t about the "environment.".

14 posted on 10/19/2014 7:38:33 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

The other obstacle has been the construction unions. They have to retool the apprenticeship programs and retro train all the members.


15 posted on 10/19/2014 7:51:34 AM PDT by az wildkitten (8 years 'til I retire)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I’m pro solar and renewable energy. Doesn’t mean I’m an environmental wacko.

I’m anti government subsidies, but very much pro solar.


16 posted on 10/19/2014 7:52:18 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Thorliveshere
I don’t have any problems with solar power, as long as it’s not funded via crony capitalism. In fact I would encourage people to do what they can to get off the grid.

Ditto.

While solar electricity isn't monetarily feasible if you are on the grid, it's still a good thing to do to be energy independent.

We've been heating our water with solar, all but in the winter for over 20 years, and hope to be doing it in the winter soon.

Heating your domestic hot water and/or your house with solar does make economic sense, even in northern New Hampshire.

17 posted on 10/19/2014 7:53:27 AM PDT by Mogger (Independence, better fuel economy and performance with American made synthetic oil.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

TPINO

Tea Partier in name only.

Frauds will always be with us.


18 posted on 10/19/2014 7:54:15 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Drango

I happen to agree that solar can be viable personally for building homes and finding some solutions.

I oppose the taxpayer financing and losing money to those liars and cheater who never intended to make it an energy source by creating huge companies that failed, and gave back huge donations to Democrats like Zero.

I realize Solar has nothing to do with the environmental wackos either.


19 posted on 10/19/2014 7:56:14 AM PDT by Kackikat (Two wrongs do NOT make a right.... unless you are a Democrat!)
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To: Eric Pode of Croydon
I don’t have any problems with solar power, as long as it’s not funded via crony capitalism. In fact I would encourage people to do what they can to get off the grid.

Right on. I'm about 85% solar. If the grid went down I could live, power-wise, almost normally.

20 posted on 10/19/2014 7:58:29 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (To win the country back, we need to be as mean as the libs say we are.)
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