Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to Our renewable energy potential

1	Affordable renewable energy for all.
2	Affordable solar seems really easy for Tucson. Why don't we have it?
3	Again, we have abundant sunshine, I appreciate that parts of the Tucson community are capitalizing on this resource. ( I only wish we would do even more!)
4	Alternative transportation - more light rail, electric cars, platinum status as a cycling community. Lots of pedestrian space downtown, arts warehouse district full of artists, nurturing our successes in optics and other industries, being aggressive about bringing high paying jobs to town, supportive of arts and small businesses, green economies.
5	Another environmental importance here. Why are we still using traditional forms of energy when we have sun 350 days of the year. Why are we continuing to spread our city out, which creates greater dependence on fossil fuels for cars, when we should be infilling? Why don't we have policy that limits lighted sign times (in other words, why is Office Max's sign still on at 3am)? It's personally important because I have to breathe the air and take in the unfiltered sunshine.
6	Arizona has so much sun that it would benefit Arizona in the long run to use solar energy
7	Attract industries that do their jobs well and have low environmental impact
8	Attract solar power related industries
9	Balanced sustainable economic growth (perhaps in light clean industry/high tech/research) with jobs that pay a living wage
10	Because I am a member of the Tucson Green Chamber of Commerce
11	Better building strategies - passive heating
12	Better water management. More solar.
13	Bring in the solar!!!
14	Build on our potential to be a solar leader.
15	City and County government has been listening to people, preserving natural areas, supporting sustainability and green building, using solar energy, and creating ways that people can take part in and influence government. Still, it can also do better in this.
16	City buildings and projects should be leading the way to demonstrate use of solar power, recycling and use of recycled materials. Adding more trees goes of course right with it. Look at what Seattle and Protland, OR have achieved.
17	Clean energy is a must- we must protect our environment, make good decisions, be responsible guardians. We can be green leaders in the country. Stop the greed- it is more than just about the money.
18	Clean up the run down areas- put pride into our community. Make Tucson the leader in Solar Energy- with our 360 days of sunshine, it is a no brainer.
19	Community sponsored solar programs for residential buildings
20	Develop infrastructure for more sustainable, greener living for all.
21	Develop solar power
22	Direct our economic development officials to focus attention on growing the Green Economy.
23	ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE ABILITY TO GET A BIGGER SHARE OF THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
24	Empahsis on solar power, dark skies, water conservation, etc. is the right thing to do to protect our environment for future generations
25	Encourage and facilitate (strongly) shift to renewables (solar) for commercial structures and residential
26	Encourage more solar manufacturers to locate in the Tucson area, capitalizing on one of our best natural resources without destroying the environment.
27	Encourage more use of solar energy and wind farms
28	Encourage solar energy use and water harvesting more
29	Energy use--switch from coal electricity to solar
30	Environmental concerns are very important to me. Tucson is an environment that alternative energies and conservation are critical for the city to survive. I am happy to see that more and more people in Tucson are starting to understand their impact.
31	Establish leadership in solar city concept and solar technology
32	Excellent place for sustainability � solar energy, straw bale housing
33	Focus local food production
34	Focus on attracting more environmental and green industries.
35	For example, as a 'Bicycle-firndldy community', short shrift is often given to cyclists. As a 'Solar-city USA', too little is being done to enable individuals to explore alternates.
36	From local farmers to vineyard owners, from Solar manufacturers to geologists, from leading chefs to seamstresses and retailers - Tucson is home to varied pros who are active members of our community.
37	From the ground up, Tucson is becoming a hub for sustainable design, Green products, LEED certified buildings, alternative energy technologies, organic gardening. This bodes well for the future here.
38	Given that Tucson is situated in one of the sunniest regions of the country, I find it inexcusable that we lack viable solar-powered transportation - or even better bike lanes to encourage people to drive less.
39	Go solar and green whereever possible
40	Going green
41	Good trends toward water conservation, solar power, backyard and community gardens.
42	Governments need to focus on creating a sustainable and robust economy to generate resident well being, needed tax revenues for services vs. tax and fee increases, retain our UA graduates. Focus on development of orders for large scale solar electric facilities would be a way to do so, also reduce water usage/reduce environmental damage and related subsequent costs to taxpayers/government
43	Greater application of solar systems
44	Green Incentives
45	Green Infrastructure
46	Green jobs
47	Green jobs would be a great future for our community
48	Green transportation (personal and public)
49	Harvesting rainwater, shade planting, solar, etc.
50	Have 'greener' industry
51	I am an architect, but we need a sustainable economy based on tourism, solar, optics, and bioscience.
52	I am continually shocked by the cost of electricity. If I could afford solar panels or some other form of renewable energy, I would not hesitate doing so. I also wish the large electricity companies would be more supportive of alternative energies.
53	I believe that the Green Economy and the Buy Local efforts are key to our future as a viable community.
54	I came to Tucson for work primarily. Our current primary industries are dependent on unsustainable practices such as military and weapons for military. We lose many University students to other cities. We have abundant solar resources. Other states are moving ahead on this. There are technologies available that use less water to create solar so there should be no reason to move forward. We are also leaders in water harvesting and could capitalize on this if the Chamber of Commerce were to include green industry and not just developers and old standards.
55	I feel that massive efforts can be made to produce solar power here in Tucson, both bringing jobs to the area and reducing carbon emissions.
56	I fully support more use of solar energy and efforts towards building capability for electric cars in Tucson.
57	I have a dream of a city government that would take on the challenge of finding funding to make Tucson the solar capital of the U.S. I think the population would participate.
58	I like the increased effort to use solar power, and to harvest rainwater.
59	I love that everywhere I go in this city, someone is promoting a green living idea, or getting up into the mountains, or Saguaro National Park. People here really appreciate the desert and the surrounding mountains.
60	I see these trends where we get Jobs that are here for a bit and then they move to another town or state. (Like call centers did.) I ask why is it that the one state of USA that doesn't need to use day light savings, not selling solar energy! Why are we still at the mercy of mining here dispite the damage it does to our lands? Because there are no other types of work that pay. We need more local industry that fits US!
61	I take pride in the accomplishments of the University of Arizona in astronomy, life sciences, health care and so many other areas. I am also delighted with Tucson's leadership in optics, solar power, bio-technology, etc.
62	I think that with the drought we are in, the city of Tucson should have a rule/law for businesses: New business parking lots have to have xeroscaped landscapes to help prevent flooding and to help reduce/eliminate plant water bills.
63	I want Tucson to thrive, economically, socially, and educationally. I want us to attract eco-friendly business to a city that values its heritage and its environment. We cannot do that without excellence in education. I want this to be a city I am proud to live in and one that I want to continue to live in.
64	I want to live among businesses and people who respect and protect the environment in general and Tucson's natural world in specific.
65	I would change the community/region to more sustainable widespread practices such as rain water harvesting, solar energy, public transportation, local food production, etc.
66	I would expect a city with nigh on 350 days of full sunlight to exploit their solar potential, and am therefore delighted to see so much of it here and hope to continue seeing that emphasis and innovation. If we aren't already, we should be the city of solar innovation.
67	I would like all levels of government to support consumers using solar power.
68	I would like for Tucson to strive to be the leader in the development of solar energy.
69	I would like there to be more efforts toward sustainability. Water harvesting, trees planted in trenches along roads where rainwater can run off the street, water the trees and reenter the ground water system. More use of solar energy.
70	I would like to see Tucson capitalize on our status as a solar city and combine forces to do what it takes to influence the state legislature and corporation commission to offer carrots and sticks to build our green industry.
71	I'm 100% dedicated to a solar powered and green Tucson. I believe we need to find a new way to live and interact with each other, nature, animals, and our planet. Going solar and green brings these benefits and life lessons to us. We'll all be the better for it.
72	If alternative energy could be made a viable commodity, we could turn this thing around
73	If we had more frequent and more efficient (solar? electric?) public transit, I would use it daily.
74	If we want to call ourselves the solar capital of the world, we need to have solar on more buildings, private and public, increase incentives using this technology, build more solar farms in the open desert, have Tucson Electric Power have an abundance of pollution-free solar energy that we sell to other states!
75	Improve Solar Energy Output
76	In order to preserve the beautiful environment, we need to take care of the ecosystem here. This means responsible use of water, better urban planning/less sprawl, solar energy, etc.
77	Increase emphasis on saving water and using solar
78	Increase environmentally sound industries for sustainability e.g. solar
79	Increase green education on solar and water
80	Increase health, engineering, solar sectors - decrease military/defense sectors
81	Increase solar usage
82	Increase sustainable energy/solar
83	Increase the use of solar energy
84	Increase urban agriculture
85	Increase use of solar energy
86	Invest in solar energy
87	It can be used to generate clean solar energy
88	It is pollution free, will make us less reliant on foreign oil and destroying the environment like the Rosemont Mine will do and it is QUIET.
89	It is very important for a city to be a self sufficient and reliable as possible. Fortunately, this goes in line with sustainabilty. Tucson can take particular advantage of the sun's energy and water harvesting can improve groundwater recharge, reduce our need for imported water, and improve the soils by using 'cleaner' rain water rather than salty ground/imported water for landscape uses.
90	It just makes sense
91	It's a no brainer to use solar (the effort started in the 1970s) and have green businesses
92	It's hard to get around Tucson unless you have a car. Small businesses need customers to succeed. And the retired, older crowd isn't big on driving...particularly at night. It would be awesome to have some type of solar-powered local, light-rail system...like Portland, Or has.
93	Lack solar-power
94	Less wrangling about who does "green" better. Let's work together!
95	Living in 250+ days of sunshine, I believe we can utilize solar power energy and making Tucson more green.
96	Make Tucson a solar industry hub and economic development in general.
97	Make Tucson region the solar capital
98	Mobilize the entire population to reduce our mamterial footprint and produce more of our own vital resources in the region
99	Monopolies vs. solar economy and industry
100	Monopolies vs. solar power and industry
101	More Solar Power
102	More alternative energy
103	More clean industry
104	More clean jobs
105	More incentives for green businesses, especially solar
106	More incentives to attract green businesses (solar in particular) to come to Tucson
107	More moves toward renewable energy
108	More solar
109	More solar and renewable energy development and practices
110	More solar energy -more efficient, less expensive, self-sustaining
111	More solar options.
112	More solar power
113	More support for alternative energy
114	More support for local ranches/farms sustainable agriculture
115	More support of green energy
116	Movement towards becoming a base for solar. Seems like a no brainer
117	My church and I would love to have a solar plant of some nature, or more encouragement for solar on homes.
118	Need to be doing more conservation & using more alternative energy
119	Need to take a better advantage of outdoor lifestyle through advertisement, solar power and tourism
120	New industries can take environment into consideration and protect the environment (not use too much water)
121	New technologies and the climate in Tucson should make us a leader in solar power. Through Pima Community College I built a solar hot water heater about 30 years ago - that has saved me lots of money in that time. I would like to see existing buildings (public and private) retrofitted for solar.
122	Not enough push for solar
123	Not enough solar
124	Our city has a relatively clean environment, and I like that we are improving bicycle lanes and public transportation to keep it that way. I like the focus on solar energy and water conservation.
125	Our delightful winter weather means unbearable summers if you are out. more shaded areas - man made (maybe with solar powered fans to cool?) or better yet tree lined walkways
126	Our presence in the desert (as western Americans) is not particularly sustainable. It seems obvious to me that we need to be careful with our water (pumped and borrowed) and harvest our most plentiful resource (sun).
127	Per the idea about development planning - we need to maintain our sense of alliance with our natural environment. We need to incorporate more solar power and water harvesting, and gray water projects at commercial scale as well as residential scale. These need to become integrated in both new and remodel development.
128	Proactive in recruiting new renewable industries
129	Promise of Solar Energy
130	Protect the enviroment, use the solar power available
131	Public solar panels and water harvesting
132	Put solar cells on places like parking garages,and large commercial buildings and covered parking lots.
133	Shift to 100% solar and increase rainwater harvesting
134	Similar to above-More solar
135	Solar
136	Solar Energy and Water Conservation
137	Solar Power
138	Solar and alternative energy is of the utmost importance. I'd like to see all new buildings and home built with photovoltaic cells, solar water, etc. This needs to be a mandate in building permits.
139	Solar capital of the world
140	Solar capital of the world - why not more solar job opportunities here
141	Solar efforts
142	Solar energy
143	Solar energy - it just makes sense
144	Solar focus and solar powered lights etc.
145	Solar future
146	Solar panels can block views vs. HOAs
147	Solar power rather than distruction...
148	Solar, wind, goethermal energy, intentional communities, co-housing all make this a more viable, sustainable community
149	Solar= economic diversity and we could sell electricity to the rest of the country
150	Southern AZ could be a center for green tech, solar, education. I'm embarrassed by Raytheon and mass imprisonment of our own youth
151	Southern Arizona should and could lead in this area
152	Support and educate developoment of water and sun harvesting
153	Sustainable green job emphasis - such as solar!
154	The ability to generate energy from the sun
155	The current recession can be used to re-examine and re-direct our priorities from a boom-town that caters to massive housing projects leap-frogging into the rural areas to an innovative community that capitalizes on our abundant sunshine and invests in the most dense areas of the valley with infrastructure improvements. It would benefit all of us if we stopped promoting new development and started investing in jobs that are sustainable and in the city that is already here.
156	The emerging Green Economy.
157	The future doesn't look good for our city with regard to energy usage yet we have the tremendous resource of the sun. We need to make better use of it and be willing to invest.
158	The insatiable consumption of fossil fuels by this culture is tantamount to the survival of humanity and many other species. We have vast solar energy resources, we should be putting our energy into reaping those resources. Water harvesting should also be high on our list of priorities. Our use of CAP water is destroying the Colorado river and the sea of Cortez.
159	The potential to be a very green community
160	The push into solar power
161	The sunshine makes what we like; i.e. sunny and bright solar city
162	There should be incentives and grants to fill in the blanks in neighborhoods. In the neighbor that I grew up in there are now many empty lots. Empty lots drive down property values and chase families and their spendable incomes out of neighborhoods causing blight. We need an urban plan that would reduced the continued building in new areas on the outer edged of the valley. The new master plan should be designed to encourage the repopulation of neighbors. Encourage the cleanup of Tucson. Tucson is filled with trash, broken down cars, homes in poor repair, weeds, poor street lighting. It appears that there is little or no uniformity in the design of buildings or neighborhoods. Much more needs to be done to save water and harness solar energy uniformly among business and homes is a must. The city has the appearance of a hodge podge that nobody has give much thought about. It is as if there has never been the development of a comprehensive, careful, considerate plan for our city.
163	This could be a meca for developing solar panels - but we don't want to use them (we are overly concerned about views and architecture)
164	This is such a no-brainer and out State Senator, Antenori, wants us to develop nuclear energy. Solar energy is the future and offers Tucson such an opprotunity to develop jobs and decrease our energy consts.
165	This is the way of future whether we like it or not. Let's be at the forefront of this change. As people age, as young families struggle to provide for children, as educational facilities find ways to spend money effectively, energy is something
166	This shows us as being ahead of the curve, and embracing methods that give us the comforts of civilized society without destroying the desert around us to get it
167	This town receives six trillion horsepower a day from the sun, and this city should be the leader in this field. Tucson Water could pump water uphill to a reservoir during the day via solar pumps, and at night release the stored energy to turn generators. In peak season, or in an emergency, this non potable water could be made ready for use. Or a recreational lake could be credited for terminal storage.
168	Too many people don't earn enough to have the best quality of life. This should be one of the solar capitals of the world. It would employ more people in jobs that are worthwhile
169	Tucson has a wonderful oportunity for solar panels. With very few cloudy days, Tucson is perfectly situated to take advantage of solar power, but instead we get most of our electricity from Northern Arizona coal.
170	Tucson has an advantage of plentiful sunshine. I would like to see us become more sustainable and profitable along the lines of solar energy. We can make a profit of selling this commodity to other regions and sustain our environment. Using the resource for the benefit of our community and the planet would be a wise way to pursue businesses who can enhance a positive outcome for all.
171	Tucson holds much promise and potential in clean and renewable Solar energy.
172	Tucson is too dependent on transporting food and other necessities via heavy energy using vehicles. We need to solar power our our homes and cars
173	Unregulated growth is putting our region at risk. We have a limited amount of water, we don't appropriately utilize solar power, and many of the decisions made by regional leaders are not sustainable.
174	Use of solar
175	Use of solar power
176	Use solar power
177	Using the natural environment to create economic development. Solar capital of the world, we can exploit that and do something good
178	Utilize the sun and heat for energy.
179	Vastly increased use of solar energy
180	Want more alternative energies
181	Want to hear in unbiased way the technical components of possibilities and problems with solar energy. Want this discussion . Maybe it's beyond our capacity. Is it doable?
182	Water conservation and solar energy production
183	We are in position to harvest solar energy yet few people take advantage due to the excessive cost.
184	We are rapidly depleting our aquifer and committing ourselves to an unsustainable future by allowing unmanageable growth. We need to capitalize on our natural solar resource by becoming the center of solar energy in the United States, as well as conserving our water through drastic measures such as required grey water systems, water harvesting and reduction of water use by entities such as golf courses and resorts.
185	We have a major research resource in the U of A, lot's of open land and the most sunshine of any city in the country. That we don't lead the country and rightly the world in solar development is shameful.
186	We have a wealth of sunshine to take advantage of to reduce fossil fuel consumption. This would reduce monthly utility bills while being environmentally friendly.
187	We have an abundance of sun - get rid of mountain top mining, all coal mining as its polluting our environment
188	We have an opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy but no one has stepped up. For god's sake, New Jersey is the nation's #1 producer of solar energy products; they have 100 days less sunshine a year. What is wrong with this picture.
189	We have had solar water heating for years but to do more is so expensive! There must be a way to get off the grid without getting off our budget.
190	We have lots of sun and not enough water. we should take advantage of the first and save as much as we can of the second.
191	We have only one planet and we must invest in clean renewable energy resources to better take care of it and do our part.
192	We have people in this region that can answer that (about solar) - local organizations, nonprofits, individuals. Groups here are heavily involved in education to help create local abundance.
193	We have solar panels and a solar hot water heater. I enjoy not having to rely on power generated electricity
194	We have such amazing natural resources (e.g., solar) here that its embarrassign that we dont use them. Tucson could be a leading city -- like california -- in modeling the use of renewables to minimize energy use, energy costs and carbon emissions
195	We have sunny weather anyway, utilize it.
196	We have taken so little advantage of this abundant resource.
197	We have yet to figure out how to compromise and merge solar panels and wind turbines with our views and architectural heritage
198	We need another big company like Raytheon. Not another missile company. We need a solar company, that will create more jobs. 10,000 jobs.
199	We need to brand ourselves as a city and stick with it. I have had so many people question why we're not the #1 community for solar use and development.
200	We need to incorporate solar into planning
201	We really need to focus on creating job opportunities to sustain the growth in the area. I find it embarrassing that the large solar companies in Tucson and Albuquerque are owned by German companies. We have a natural resource that could be tapped into for many jobs, yet we actually have neighborhood associations that prohibit solar due to asthetics. This has changed recently, but the mindset is still there. It really needs to change, so solar is a requirement especially in building large communities and large buildings. The energy can be harvested and possibly even sold to California where they struggle with 'brown outs'.
202	We seem to think that here, even in a desert, that water is an endless commodity. As a comminity, we need to embrace conservation so we can preserve this town and the surrounding environment. By promoting reduce/reuse/recycle/rebuild we can conserve this precious resource. We also need to further explore alternative energy to support our metropolis, including solar, wind and even nuclear power.
203	We should be THE solar city. It would be a great way to distinguish ourselves and speaks to the progressive nature of our city.
204	We should be leading the world in solar innovation and water conservation.
205	We should be the leader in solar energy rather than known for our air force base. nor should we continue to allow Raytheon be our best employer. solar energy jobs should be the best.
206	We should improve solar development as well as conservation of water.
207	We waste immense volumes of water, and do not fully take advantage of our solar and wind energy resources. Things are changing, including perceptions. Keep on supporting, and mostly educating the community. There is no other way...resources are finite.
208	We're no Portland or Vancouver, but maybe we could be some day? There are people who want to save this place-water, air, solar.
209	We've got the sun and the wind - we should harness it
210	Where we are ok in terms of alternative energy and conservation, we significantly lack recylcling options.
211	Why aren't we the solar capital of the world?
212	Why use anything else? We've got plenty of sunshine, it's clean, and creates a new industry
213	With 360 days of full sun a year, we have the upper hand as a region, to dominate this area of American industry growth.
214	Working on rainwater harvesting, grey water, lowering our waste of resources (less down the drains, less use, more efficient delivery & use of power sources too)
215	Would like to Tucson to be a mecca for industry leaders in solar/alternative energy technology and use; not only to address global warming, but to bolster our flagging economy with high-tech jobs in an industry that makes sense to our region. Think of all the abandoned strip mines (Bisbee leaps to mind) that could be filled with solar panels to generate electricity).
216	Would like to see more emphasis / taking advantage of Tucson as a �solar city�
217	You can't beat it. The climate also provides us with opportunities to explore alternative energy sources.