Replies

His support for wind farms is a last minute appeal to Greens. I spoke with him and one of his aides for several minutes on the subject. Some published refs I dug up. He lacked the courage to even discuss the obvious solution, nukes.

Check out http://www.globeusa.org/globeusa/images/AllardStatement.pdf

Where he states " I have been told that 100 square miles covered with photovoltaic units would provide the US with all its energy needs."

What a dolt.

From his homepage.

Allard Earns High Marks for Support of Solar Source

Date Alamosa Valley Courier - Guest Opinion 6/8/2002 On Capitol Hill, it is far better to have a few staunch backers in your corner than an army of the mildly supportive. Fortunately for the U.S. solar industry, it has a solid, committed advocate in Colorado’s U.S. Senator Wayne Allard.

Let’s face it, the solar industry is small. Our $3 billion worldwide industry is dwarfed by giant energy players for whom $3 billion is the size of a single state’s market. Yet, when it comes to a roll call vote, solar power proves popular in our nation’s capital.

One reason the solar message gets heard in Washington comes from the power of opinion polls. Poll after poll across America shows citizens – voters – want increased government support of clean, renewable energy. In the last year, support for solar has ranged from a low of 84% in on poll, to a high of 91% in a pair of polls. When your poll numbers are in the stratosphere, you can often get your calls returned.

Yet even with chart-topping poll numbers, the solar industry has found Washington to be a rather cloudy place. For example, the Administration’s first budget at the Department of Energy and its national labs. Similarly, as tax relief for various industries has been adopted in recent years, the solar industry has not seen a dime of federal support.

Enter Colorado’s junior Senator Wayne Allard. From a state revered more for its snow than its sunlight, Sen. Allard has forged a leadership role in promoting clean, legislation to provide a 15% tax credit for homeowners who purchased solar power for their homes. The last such tax cut expired when Olivia Newton John topped the radio charts. Allard has worked tirelessly to promote his vision, and now the House and Senate have both passed this measure, and President Bush has endorsed it. It should become law later this year.

Senator Allard uses the popularity of solar, wind and other renewable to build support for the Senate Renewable Energy Caucus, which he founded in 1998 and now co-chairs with Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan. The Caucus has managed to corral membership from a highly diverse set of distinguished U.S. Senators, including both Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass) and Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC). The Caucus is now one of the largest in the Senate.

But it is one thing to join a Caucus, another to make Caucus policies a priority. When the Administration proposed slashing research and development of solar power, including big cuts at Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Senator Allard intervened directly with the white House and helped bring about a dramatic turn of events. Virtually all of the proposed cuts were restored, and this year’s White House budget actually proposes a small increase for solar programs, despite the large increases set aside for our nation’s defense and security.

Leading Senators often become identified with signature issues. John McCain is known for his strong defense credentials and support for campaign finance reform, Tom Harkin for his support of the American Farmer. When they write the book on Senator Wayne Allard, there will be a chapter on his leadership on renewable energy issues, and tech jobs, and less dependence on foreign energy sources.

Now if we could only clone Senator Allard 99 times.