Wind systems are now close to providing electricity at near grid parity in pricing. Solar systems for both concentrated applications in desert regions and rooftop usage in urban areas are also becoming more competitive as entrepreneurs and investors develop ever more cost-effective solutions. Projections that wind, solar, geothermal and even wave/tidal solutions will vie with power generation from coal are encouraging. These alternative energy resources should also be supported in California’s research universities.

Government should become an early adopter of the new renewable-generation technologies now being brought to market. Governmental purchasing power would stimulate demand in these fledgling American industries and help reduce their cost as manufacturing volume increases.

The above are statements on several public policy issues drafted by Tom Campbell, former US Congressman, former California State Senator, former Director of Finance for California, and currently Interim Chairman of the Common Sense Party. They are meant to initiate consideration of several important issues; they are not the official views of the Common Sense Party. Please feel free to submit your own thoughts on these issues on the Open Policy Discussion Page.