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Solar FiT~’s 1AC

Observation One – The Status Quo

The federal government is embracing solar as a viable form of energy production, but their plans for expansion are limited to 6 states and utility scale projects.

US Dept of Interior ~’12 ~~~[http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Obama-Administration-Approves-Roadmap-for-Utility-Scale-Solar-Energy-Development-on-Public-Lands.cfm~~~~~~]

As part of President Obama~’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to
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support 13,000 construction and operations jobs according to project developer estimates. 

The Administration~’s recent decision to fast-track large-scale solar was a pivot point in our nation~’s relationship with solar energy – it was a matter of choice, and the United States Federal Government chose to fund programs that will increase the cost of electricity for the majority of rate payers while guaranteeing a boost in revenue for utilities.

Union Bulletin ~’13 ~~~[1/3, Small-scale solar~’s big potential goes untapped, by Julie Cart,http://union-bulletin.com/news/2013/jan/03/small-scale-solars-big-potential-goes-untapped/~~~~~~]

The Obama administration~’s solar-power initiative has fast-tracked large-scale plants
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also have brought solar power within reach for many homeowners and small businesses.

These large scale programs, by their very nature, do no integrate into the most overlooked communities — that have been battered by their proximity to fossil fuel industries for decades, and are being excluded as beneficiaries of the solar movement.

Cervas ~’12, Coordinator @ California Environmental Justice ~~~[Strela, 1/19, Solar for All,http://caleja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SmallScaleRDGfitProposal_FINALv4.pdf~~~~~~]

Low-income, communities of color have shouldered the burden of living adjacent to
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will give teeth to the concept of investing in communities most in need. 

This problem is exacerbated by current incentive structures that allow the benefits of solar panels to be reaped by middle and upper class families and businesses while low-income families literally pay the price.

Cardwell ~’12, Business Day reporter for The New York Times covering energy ~~~[6/4, Diane, Solar Panel Payments Set Off a Fairness Debate, New York Times,http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/business/solar-payments-set-off-a-fairness-debate.html?pagewanted=all~~~~~~]

In California~’s sun-scorched Central Valley, the monthly electric bill can easily top
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continue to encourage rooftop installations, while the utilities have generally been opposed. 

Thus, we offer the following plan: The Unites States Federal government should implement a feed in tariffs system for solar projects with a project size cap of 500 kilowatts, a program cap of 375 megawatts by 2020 at a "regular annual pace" with a term minimum of 20 years.

Observation Two – Solvency

A small-scale FiT structure will facilitate solar installation in low income communities.

Cervas ~’12, Coordinator @ California Environmental Justice ~~~[Strela, 1/19, Solar for All,http://caleja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SmallScaleRDGfitProposal_FINALv4.pdf~~~~~~]

1 – Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for small-scale projects:
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innovation, education, etc. to local communities, especially underemployed communities.

These small scale projects will revitalize low income communities and give people control over their energy future.

Cervas ~’12, Coordinator @ California Environmental Justice ~~~[Strela, 1/19, Solar for All,http://caleja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SmallScaleRDGfitProposal_FINALv4.pdf~~~~~~]

Low-income communities of color need renewable energy systems that are 1.5 MW or less. A small-scale feed-in tariff program for renewable distributed generation allows rooftop solar that can be sited in low income urban and rural communities. Small-scale projects create jobs, reduce energy bills, generate wealth, revitalize neighborhoods, and give people some control over their energy future. 

Specifically, and empirically, small-scale feed-in-tariff systems cut utility bills in half.

Evo Energy ~’11 ~~~[4/12,http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/solar-feed-tariffs-uk-clarification/~~~~~~]

It has been a frantic few months in the short-lived life of the feed-in tariff, with rates cut in half 5
the tariff was designed to encourage the growth of micro-generation from renewable sources
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would rise each year with inflation and was tax-free for homeowners. 

Observation Three – Forced Out

The insanely high cost of energy forced upon low income communities by unequal access to solar strains their already limited budgets – forcing the choice between paying energy bills and every other necessary cost of living, including mortgages and rent.

Smith et. al. ~’07, MD %26 MPH – Chairperson of Child Health Impact Assessment Working Group ~~~[Lauren A., April, Unhealthy Consequences: Energy Costs and Child Health,http://www.hiaguide.org/sites/default/files/ChildHIAofenergycostsandchildhealth.pdf~~~~~~]

High energy costs place increased economic demands on low-income households with limited budgets
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suggest that their situation would be even more precarious without this important assistance. 

Specifically, high utility bills in low income communities are a leading cause of individuals~’ %26 families~’ inability to maintain the habitability of their home.

Smith et. al. ~’07, MD %26 MPH – Chairperson of Child Health Impact Assessment Working Group ~~~[Lauren A., April, Unhealthy Consequences: Energy Costs and Child Health,http://www.hiaguide.org/sites/default/files/ChildHIAofenergycostsandchildhealth.pdf~~~~~~]

It is well documented that high energy costs can result in unpaid bills, leading
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off moratorium period, families continue to accrue debt for their utility bills. 

3.5 million people are on the brink of losing their home as we speak.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty ~’12(4/16, "Law Center Launches "All-In to End Homelessness" Campaign" < ~[~[http://homelessnesslaw.org/2012/04/law-center-launches-%E2%80%9Call-in-to-end-homelessness%E2%80%9D-campaign/-http://homelessnesslaw.org/2012/04/law-center-launches-%E2%80%9Call-in-to-end-homelessness%E2%80%9D-campaign/~~]~]>)

The "All-In" campaign commemorates the Act~’s 25th Anniversary – recognizing its
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to act.  It~’s time to fulfill the promise of McKinney-Vento.

Scenario 1 – Cycle of Trauma

The forced move from experiencing low-income housing to homelessness specifically pushes women
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the impact of this trauma and to stop the cycle before it starts.

Goodman et.al. 11 ~~~[Lisa A. Goodman, Ph.D., Katya Fels, %26 Catherine Glenn, M.A. With contributions from Judy Benitez, No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women~~~]

Although prevalence rates of homelessness have been estimated at up to seven to eight percent
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creating a growing number of ìspecial needsî victims whose needs are grossly neglected.

Women experiencing precarious housing situations are uniquely vulnerable to interpersonal violence – this demands our immediate attention.

Goodman et.al. 11 ~~~[Lisa A. Goodman, Ph.D., Katya Fels, %26 Catherine Glenn, M.A. With contributions from Judy Benitez, No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women~~~]

Despite over two decades of media and public policy attention, homelessness remains an enormous
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might take to intervene with victims and prevent future sexual assaults from occurring.

Scenario 2 - Visibility

Loss of daily shelter forces people into absolute vulnerability and leads to unspeakable, inescapable violence against them - we must take steps to pull people out of this trap.

Norton ~’09 ~~~[Larry, 8/19, Dehumanizing the homeless: violence and hate, http://blog.oregonlive.com/oldtown/2009/08/dehumanizing_the_homeless_viol.html~~~~~~]

What is the effect of dehumanizing the homeless? Vulnerability. Previously (Part
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message to the many homeless victims. Well so much for day dreams.

People experiencing homelessness, even as they are brutalized are literally invisible in our society – our 1ac is an attempt to bring them back into our collective field of vision. Simple recognition is the first step.

Jean ~’10 (Abby, August 5, 2010, "Vulnerability: Indexes, Homelessness and Disability"< http://disabledfeminists.com/2010/08/05/vulnerability-indexes-homelessness-and-disability/>)

This population is considered extremely difficult to serve, as lots have tried to engage
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that – and these programs are proving that assumption to be absolutely wrong.