To watch the entire interview, click on the media player below.
Official Bio for Senator Leff
Barbara Leff served in the House for three terms and is currently in her third term in the Senate. Leff is the Chairman of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. She is also a member of the Health Committee, Finance Committee and Ethics Committee. .. continue reading ..
Fireitup has learned that The Vote Solar Initiative, a known activist organization with links to many Websites, is behind a highly classified program to influence voters in an effort to gain more solar jobs in their states.
Sources tell Fireitup that the program operating out of offices in the notorious San Francisco area, has already targeted voters throughout a region equal to the combined areas of Texas, Florida and Nevada.
“Fictional, tongue-in-cheek ads were placed in the classified sections of newspapers in Texas, Florida and Nevada,” admits ‘Adam Browning’ who talked with Fireitup on condition of anonymity. “It was a big hit,” ‘Browning’ gloated.
A typical ad reads: “Help wanted: 85,500+ electricians, engineers, sales to staff the new solar energy economy. Apply at Legislature, ask for Bold Solar Policies.” A thorough check of the Florida Legislature’s Website, however, produced no entry for a legislator by that name.
Not all Floridians amused by classified campaign
Both Florida residents surveyed for this story termed the classified campaign “hilarious,” “awesome” and “clever.” Not every resident in the Sunshine State could be reached, however. Of those not called, an overwhelming majority had nothing positive to say about the campaign.
I have to admit that when I first heard about green jobs as the solution to our economic problems, I thought it was all hype. Now I know the exciting truth: It’s only partly hype! Let’s face it, green jobs are no panacea for an economy that has been brutalized across the board. But, so what?
The Vote Solar Initiative
As Adam Browning, head of the Vote Solar Initiative told me in an interview on Monday, “Solar means jobs … [but] there are a million reasons to support solar.”
How may jobs will actually be created from solar’s growth? I’ve got two predictions. Both are guaranteed to be accurate.
1. A lot. Like, a really big number.
2. We’ll have a better idea after they’ve been created.
Mayor Gordon’s “phone has been ringing off the hook” and “we’ve been flooded with E-mails from people wanting to know how they can install solar,” the mayor’s spokesman, Scott Phelps, told Fireitup today.
Make no mistake about it, solar is gonna be big here in the Valley. Unless somebody manages to screw things up.
Here’s a recent (February ‘09) NBC Nightly News clip on new solar jobs in Michigan. Notice how retraining and education are mentioned as vital parts of any plan for attracting and building a successful solar industry. Why should you notice that? Because it’s true. And because Mom is a retired school teacher.
