Synopses & Reviews
Review
“Twice as many Americans already work in solar energy as in coal mines. If you want to understand the future, and especially if you want to help shape it, read this book.”
—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Eaarth and founder, 350.org
“Paradigm shifts aren’t always obvious when you’re in the middle of one. Danny Kennedy makes a compelling case for why solar power is the crucial energy technology of the 21st century.”
—Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club
“Anyone who cares about boosting our economy, preserving our environment, and ensuring the welfare of generations to come should read this book!”
—Mark Ruffalo, actor
“Rooftop Revolution lays out, in clear and engaging language, how we got into the energy mess we’re in and how we can get out—benefiting the planet, creating jobs, and saving homeowners money.”
—Annie Leonard, creator of the film and book The Story of Stuff
Synopsis
In the wake of the Solyndra collapse, solar power’s detractors—particularly the fans of fossil fuel—have been proclaiming that solar is just a hippie pipe dream. But as Danny Kennedy points out, Solyndra failed precisely because it was unable to compete in a red hot industry. The signs are everywhere: the United States and China have for the first time invested more money in clean, renewable energy than in dirty fossil fuels. Germany already gets 25% of its power from the sun—and created 250,000 clean energy jobs in the process. Warren Buffet just bought a $2 billion solar project in the Southwestern desert. But these are facts the mainstream media has largely failed to report
In this succinct, hard-hitting book Kennedy shows that solar can save money, create jobs, and restore the environment—it’s only politics and perception that are preventing it. For consumers, he describes the technological advances that have now made solar so cost-efficient and practical it’s now competitive with gas and coal electricity. He breaks down the 100,000 jobs solar has already created in America and explains how it could create far more. Decrying the lack of leadership in this area on the part of both political parties, he outlines how we can take advantage of this historic opportunity to free ourselves from dependence on destructive and declining forms of energy and unleash the unlimited power of the sun.
Synopsis
Here is the truth that the powerful Dirty Energy public relations machine doesn't want you to know: the ascent of solar energy is upon us. Solar-generated electricity has risen exponentially in the last few years and employment in the solar industry has doubled since 2009. Meanwhile, electricity from coal has declined to pre-World War II levels as the fossil fuel industry continues to shed jobs.
Danny Kennedy systematically refutes the lies spread by solar's opponents--that it is expensive, inefficient, and unreliable; that it is kept alive only by subsidies; that it can't be scaled; and many other untruths. He shows that we need a rooftop revolution to break the entrenched power of the coal, oil, nuclear, and gas industries Solar energy can create more jobs, return our nation to prosperity, and ensure the sustainability and safety of our planet. Now is the time to move away from the dangerous energy sources of the past and unleash the amazing potential of the sun.
Synopsis
The Biggest Untold Economic Story of Our TimeHere is the truth that the powerful Dirty Energy public relations machine doesn’t want you to know: the ascent of solar energy is upon us. The production of solar-generated electricity has risen exponentially in the last few years, and employment in the solar industry has doubled since 2009. Meanwhile, electricity from coal has declined to pre–World War II levels as the fossil fuel industry continues to shed jobs.
Danny Kennedy systematically refutes the lies spread by solar’s opponents—that it is expensive, inefficient, and unreliable; that it is kept alive only by subsidies; that it can’t be scaled; and many other untruths. He shows that we need a rooftop revolution to break the entrenched power of the coal, oil, nuclear, and gas industries. Solar energy can create more jobs, return our nation to prosperity, and ensure the sustainability and safety of our planet. Now is the time to move away from the dangerous energy sources of the past and unleash the amazing potential of the sun.
About the Author
Danny Kennedy is the founder and president of Sungevity, Inc., a leading residential solar power company. He was named Innovator of the Year by the PBS program Planet Forward in 2011.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1 Empires of the Sun: The Politics of Solar Energy
2 You are My Sunshine—Taking a Stand Against Dirty Energy
3 Walk on the Sunny Side—Challenging the Myths
4 Hot Jobs
5 Just Warming Up—The Future of Energy Independence
EPILOGUE So Much Sunshine to the Square Inch—Kennedy’s Personal Solar Story