Solar panels, electric cars should top of Valley’s agenda

The Bee recommends that we “put solar panels on every roof, electric cars in most every garage, and charging stations along every major route” (June 30). At first glance, it sounds like a pie-in-the-sky idea.

But the cost of solar panels is predicted to drop another 40% in two years, allowing solar energy to reach “grid parity” with fossil fuels by 2017.

Electric cars used to be the cars of the future, but they are here now. I just bought a Chevy Spark EV demo car for less than $9,000 (after rebates and tax credit). This car not only produces zero air pollution while running on the energy from my rooftop solar panels, it is very quick off the line.

Air pollution, research indicates, costs the valley over $3 billion a year in health-related costs. Why not save some of those billions by investing in clean energy and clean vehicles?

As The Bee pointed out, we live in a Valley that has unique problems with air quality, and therefore, we require a unique solution. This visionary idea is eminently doable, and should be on the top of the agenda of every one of our leaders.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Solar panels, electric cars should top of Valley’s agenda."