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In Freiberg, Germany, a florist sells flowers on a snowy street in January. The 800-year old medieval town, the industrial center of the former communist East Germany, maintains its historic character surrounded by old castle walls and a moat. Not long ago, the town had a 20 percent unemployment rate, but today the solar industry has brought new jobs and related businesses. FREIBERG, Germany -- Head to the eastern edge of Germany, go down a two-lane road, pass the castle walls of this medieval town, and you'll find a glimmer of Oregon's future.
New solar factories rise atop snow-covered hills. High-tech businesses snag workers for miles around. On rooftops and farmland, solar panels fire electricity into the utility grid.
In Germany, a decade of national policies and billions in government subsidies fuel a burgeoning solar industry, creating 230,000 jobs and putting it on track to lead the world's emerging - and lucrative - clean-tech sector.
It's a dream scenario for Oregon leaders, in a high-stakes bid to grow their own "solar forest." And they intend to follow Germany's path - practically step by step.
In the coming months, Oregon will test a new incentive program that takes after the German subsidy called a feed-in tariff, which requires utility companies to pay residents for generating electricity on rooftop solar systems.
Businesses, too, will be able to tap into the perk, which could provide a return over 15 years for investing in solar, still one of the most expensive forms of energy around.
Already, hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits are riding on businesses such as SolarWorld, a leading German manufacturer with North America's largest solar plant, in Hillsboro.
Still, Oregonians can look to Germany to see where this green gamble might end up.
"If you talk about solar, you talk about Germany," said Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, whose visits there shape a sun-powered vision. "We may never emulate Germany, but the economics of it is something to learn from.
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Here we have ANOTHER Governor praising Feed-In Tariff laws. Why not Ted Strickland? Is it because Ted Strickland is in way too deep with dirty coal and nuke lobbyists? As Green Party candidate for Ohio governor, I will make it a priority that Ohio residents have a chance of receiving a payment credit for using solar power in their homes and businesses.
Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor
Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/
Vote in the Green Party Primary on May 4th!
For more info, contact 330-503-1407.
