SUN DAY

NEW HOPE Accelerated Cheap Energy 

SUN DAY Sept 21, on the eve of the fall Equinox, was the brainchild of Bill McKibbns, founder of 350.org for young people and Third Act for those over 60. 

Here in Eugene, members of 350 and 3^rd Act organized a celebration and teaching venue with booths outside the Campbell Senior Center and tables & chairs inside. 

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT    A Livable Planet 

Oregon needs to pass an Environmental Rights Amendment to preserve a livable planet for our children. OCERA is the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights amendment. It is a voluntary committee working to qualify this initiative for the 2028 ballot.  

FEDERAL TAX CREDITS  Electrification Code   

To benefit from federal tax credits by 7/4/26, we need to take steps now to get new construction or complex canopy projects underway and secure commercial solar projects. 

By working with neighbors we can pass legislation changing Oregon’s electrification code to allow Balcony / Plug-In Solar arrays. If Utah did it, so can we! When enough states change their code, they can pressure for a national change that will allow lower income persons to reduce their electricity costs. 

TRANSPORTATION FEES 2027 / Legislation 

Recent state legislation imposes higher fees and road-use taxes on electric vehicles when it is the gas guzzlers that ruin the roads and pollute our air. This is not set to go into effect until 2027. We need to get busy NOW to get this gift to the oil and gas industry reversed.

   

SOLAR ARRAYS & WINDMILLS ARE THE 

FORESTS OF THE FUTURE

REDUCING CARBON & 

KEEPING PLANET EARTH 

LIVABLE FOR HUMANS

A World in Transition

A WORLD IN TRANSITION

Economically, today’s world is WORKERS vs BILLIONAIRES. On Labor Day in the US, there were over 1000 rallies in all 50 states. All were clarifying that it is workers who create an economy, not a small group of wealthy individuals. Globally, South Korea stood up for its workers who were snatched without warning from a Hyundai factory in Georgia.

Politically, today’s world is made up of Regional Alliances based on caring for all their citizens. Recently in the US, four west coast states have forged a partnership to ensure that their citizens have access to science-based information about health and available medicine. In Western Europe, countries in the European Union are bonded in support of Ukraine.

Culturally, the Solar Panel and Windmill have become symbols of a new era of cheap sustainable energy. The state of California gets 40% of its energy from solar and 20% from wind. Agrivoltaics (solar aiding agriculture) is cropping up all over the world, such as in Africa, Colorado, and recently in Japan where researchers announced that solar panels over rice fields have proven an effective way to grow a diet staple while also producing clean energy.

While oil and gas exporting countries (Saudi Arabia & Russia) and states (Texas) invest in clean energy for themselves, they are attempting to keep countries and states that need to import oil and gas from having the cheaper solar and wind power that is now available. The Trump administration has sold out US citizens, eliminating clean energy initiatives under President Biden and trying to get oil and gas companies to produce more just to keep making money for the already rich. 

SUN DAY CELEBRATION - September 21

At the equinox on Sunday September 21, we all have an opportunity to celebrate the hope and possibility solar energy gives us for a livable planet. Here in Oregon we will have electric cars and bikes available for attendees to try out, along with fun activities for kids and families. To take advantage of Oregon's rebate option which ends at the conclusion of September, people can access the rebate by signing a contract to buy an electric vehicle ... no money exchanges hands that day.

Let's make SUN DAY as significant as the first EARTH DAY was.