歐巴馬政府7日頒佈國家社群太陽能合作計畫，增加所有美國人──尤其是中低收入戶──獲取太陽能的機會，同時增加太陽能產業的勞動力。
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| 美國巴爾的摩市的工人，正在一處連棟式住宅安裝太陽能板。圖片來源：白宮 The White House。 |
多戶共用 全美國宅將必備太陽能
新政的目的是讓近50％的家庭與企業租戶或是屋頂空間不足以安裝太陽能系統者可以使用太陽能，同時也將出版指導手冊，協助各州執行社區太陽能計畫。
歐巴馬政府曾設下安裝300兆瓦再生能源於聯邦補助住宅的目標，並將提供架設太陽能系統的技術支援。
此新政是歐巴馬一系列減碳政策的一部分，不需經過由共和黨掌控的國會同意。新政的具體內容包括安裝太陽能陣列於聯邦補助住宅的屋頂。官員表示，將催生讓多戶共用太陽能板的計畫。
白宮表示，去年美國每3週上線的太陽能電量等於2008年一整年，太陽能產業工作機會成長速度則是其他產業的10倍。2010年初起，太陽能電力系統的平均成本降了50%。
改善社區能源效率 政府、投資人、電力公司加碼支援
超過20州的住宅有關當局、偏鄉電力合作社、電力公司和相關組織，承諾實行超過260個太陽能計畫，包括幫助中低收入戶減少電費支出以及改善社區的太陽能設備。
另有多位慈善家和具有影響力的投資人，以及政府與地方城市，也承諾挹注超過5億2千萬美元，以改善社區太陽能設備以及中低收入戶的能源效率。
美國住宅與都市發展局宣布，將提供直接的技術支援給國宅組織，以實現安裝300兆瓦再生能源的目標。同時，住宅與都市發展局也利用網站提供政策指南、工具和其他線上資源，協助國宅太陽能設備的佈建和其他再生能源。
歐巴馬政府宣布給予美國志工團（AmeriCorps）資金，佈署太陽能設備並為弱勢社群創造工作機會，同時加強太陽能教育和增加職業訓練機會。
A new initiative to increase access to solar energy for all Americans, especially low-income and moderate-income communities, while expanding opportunities to join the solar workforce, was announced Tuesday by the Obama Administration.
The new policy is the latest by President Barack Obama to limit the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change without the need for new legislation, which would need approval from the Republican-controlled Congress, where climate skeptics and deniers are influential.
To unlock access to solar for the nearly 50 percent of households and businesses that are renters or do not have enough roof space to install solar systems, the White House is launching a National Community Solar Partnership. A guide to support states in developing community solar programs will be issued as part of the new policy.
The administration has set a goal to install 300 megawatts of renewable energy in federally subsidized housing and will provide technical assistance to make it easier to install solar energy.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it will offer direct technical assistance to affordable housing organizations making a commitment toward the Administration’s new 300 MW goal.
As part of this assistance, HUD is launching a website to provide policy guidance, tools, and other online resources to help advance solar deployment and the installation of other renewable energy in affordable housing.
More than $520 million has been promised in independent commitments from philanthropic and impact investors, states, and cities to advance community solar and scale up solar and energy efficiency for households on the lower end of the income range.
Housing authorities, rural electric co-ops, power companies, and organizations in more than 20 states are committing to put in place more than 260 solar energy projects, including projects designed to help these communities save on their energy bills and further community solar power.
Solar arrays will be installed atop federally subsidized housing units and officials said they want to encourage projects that allow several homes to draw power from a single set of solar panels.
The White House says that last year, the United States brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy.
And since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50 percent.
The Obama Administration announced AmeriCorps funding to deploy solar and create jobs in underserved communities, and will be expanding solar energy education and opportunities for job training.
※ 全文及圖片詳見：ENS
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
