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 ear mayor and council, I'm here today to call for
"regional energy self-sufficiency" to eliminate our
dependency on imported energy resources.
 If we
were energy self-sufficient today, we'd be virtually unaffected
by rising energy prices, whether it be electricity, natural gas
or gasoline. We are past the point of complaining. Now is the
time to eliminate the problem permanently.
If we aggressively
pursue cost-effective efficiency improvements and the development
of our region's renewable energy resources, we could be energy
self-sufficient by 2015. Even without efficiency improvements,
we could supply all the energy we currently use by installing
solar cells on less than 8 percent of the land already covered
by buildings, parking lots and roads. With efficiency improvements,
we could achieve energy self-sufficiency with less than 3 percent
coverage.
Becoming energy
self-sufficient has many economic benefits. Currently, we export
around 5 billion dollars each year out of San Diego County to
pay for the energy we import. Becoming energy self-sufficient
will bring this 5 billion dollars back to our local economy,
which will increase yearly economic activity in our region by
10 to 20 billion dollars or by as much as 20 percent. Economists
call this the multiplier effect.
Becoming energy
self-sufficient will create thousands of new profitable business
opportunities and tens of thousands of new good paying jobs.
Since most of the people earning these wages and profits will
be residents, most of the money they earn will be spent here,
stimulating economic activity across the board.
Becoming energy
self-sufficient will increase government revenues and reduce
municipal costs.
More jobs
and business will reduce government cost by reducing unemployment,
homelessness, welfare, and crime. With more money in circulation,
sales will increase and there will be more competition for property.
This will translate into increased sales and property tax revenues.
In other words, by becoming energy self-sufficient, governments
save money while increasing revenue.
And, most
importantly, becoming energy self-sufficient will put our citizens
in control of the cost and availability of the energy upon which
they are so vitally dependent.
Recognizing
the economic and security win-wins available, the Sacramento
Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is aggressively installing
solar cells on roof tops and over parking lots in their service
area. California State subsidies, designed to increase solar
cell installations statewide, already exist. The Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power has just sweetened the pot by adding
their own subsidy to the statewide program.
I think we
can do better than Sacramento and LA in creating an energy secure
future for our city and region. And, in achieving this goal,
we can take world leadership in developing energy self-sufficient
economies planet wide.
I'm putting
my shoulder to the wheel toward making San Diego and our region
energy self-sufficient. I'd greatly appreciate your help in this
effort. Thank you. 
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