I age rapid comm"ercialization. To date, more than 23 states have enacted statutes which offer such incentives as tax credits and deductions, exemptions from property and sales taxes for solar units, and low-interest loans. North Dakota's legislature this year passed a law that provides procedures for the creation of voluntary solar easements similar to Colorado legislation put into effect two years ago. Public buildings powered by solar ·energy are in the works· all over New Mexico. And one of the major builders-is state government-mandated by the 1975 legislature to consider alternative energy systems for all state construction. The· state al.ready has financed two solar buildings Tecently opened at New Mexico State University a,nd expects shortly to solarize several other major complexes now under construction. In California, the state Office of Appropriate Technology is providing bicycles to state workers in Sacramento as an alternative to automobiles, training unemployed persons to design, build and install solar hot water systems in state-owned houses and apartment buildings, and assisting in the design of new state buildings that use only one-fourth the energy of conventional buildings. • . . The long-range goals of these and other state energy planning programs are often quite ambitious. The New York State Assembly, for example, has endorsed an energy policy goal of meeting SO% of its energy needs from solar energy, wind power and solid wastes from within the state; presently New York must import 90% of its energy. South Dakota is planning to reduce its historic per capita energy growth rnte of 3.85% to at least .68% by 1980 and to 0% by 1985. A study has been completed in Montana on how to make the state energy self-sufficient. That report follows the thinking of Amory Lovins (i.e.-reliance on conservation and decentralized·, alternative energy technologies) and is probably the first serious effort by any state to explore energy independence through "soft technolo.gies." A spate of bills to implement the report's anticipated recomme'ndations is now being readied for the Montana legislature. In King County (Washington), as part of an energy conservation program first proposed in October 1976, a few hundred low-income residents received·warmer homes and lower heating bills this past winter; there a $40,000 "winterization" program was designed to reduce energy consumption and the heating costs of low-income elderly; the savings were estimated to be 30%. The Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development's Energy Crisis Program encompasses 27 predominantly Appalachian counties in southeastern Ohio and is operated by 16 Community Action Agencies. The program, which began operating in February 1975, has accomplished partial or compk~te weatherization services on approximately 2,500 homes and has granted crisis intervention assistance to 1,500 households (that entails giving one-time-only cash grants or fuel supplies to individuals who are having difficulty paying - their utility bills). • Ocean Cou~nty (NJ) is the first locality to form a Youth Energy Conservation Corps. Under the program being coordinated by the Ocean County Energy Council, local teachers are being trained in energy conservation strategies. ~ne,.-gy conservation clubs, in addition, are being f.ormed for grammar school students; student coordinators are being appointed in high schools to monitor such areas as lighting, air conditioning usage. There are also solar demonstration projects in shop classes and other conservation projects in , science classes. On January 31, 1977, a new planning and zoning code went i o effect in Los Alamos County (NM), which includes a solar ~ights ordinance. The homeowner's right to solar October 1977 RAIN. Page 5 energy is clearly specified and protected; the location of vegetation or accessory structures on a lot is prohibited if· these additions will block the access of an already-instq,lled solar collection system to the sun. The Small Farm Project of Cedar County (NE) is currently planning various energy-saving programs for the Project's 25 cooperating farms. Design and costing of specific energy innovations are now in process with assistance from several consultants,; they include solar heating of homes and farm buildings, wind generation of electricity, wind-water pumping, improved insulation, and use of methane fuels. Actual construction is slated to begin in fall 1977. Many of the nation's regio!.1 councils have designed pro- . grams to addre~s their own local energy' needs. For example, the Comprehensive Planning Organization of San Diego began work in November 1976'on a regional energy plan that will promote energy conservation measures and the development of alternative energy sources fe;tsible in the San Diego region. The Organization already publishes a monthly "shopping list" outlining steps local residents and businesses can take to get more efficient use from home appliances, cooling systems, etc. The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments disseminates tips on weatherization of homes and offices.to both elected officials and the public. T-he San Luis Vall€:y Council -of Governments (Alamosa, CO) is conducting workshops emphasizing techniques for utilizing solar energy, energy conservation and natural building design. The Southwest Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission is condutting energy audits of office buildings and schools and recommending steps that might be taken to.eliminate problem· areas. e Hundreds of towns and cities'have undertaken energy planning efforts to promote energy conservation and to tap locally-available, renewable energy resources. These efforts have oeen very diverse, ranging from broad comprehensive programs to small tentative ones. One of the best comprehensive energy.conserva.tion pr,o100 80 E 60 .::L. 40 - E 20 01 - 10· ro u 8 t 6 Q_ 4 (/) C 2 ~ I- 1.0 ....... 0 0.8 ...... 0 0.6 . U 0.4 o.i 0.1 TABLE I ENERGY US!= FOR TRAVEL BY ANIMALS AND MACHINES Mice : ·• • Bee Dog • • Cars Man• • Horses .-: • Jet Salmon • • Man on Bike 10-6 10"6 10-2 1 10 102 104 106 1 Body Weight (kilograms) Man on a bicycle ranks first•in efficiency among traveling animals and machines. _..;
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