Dick Cheney’s not invited.

This Saturday in Somerville, the Boston Area Solar Energy Association (BASEA) will host the first annual Solar Day, an event where people whom the vice-president might laud for their “personal virtue” can gather to learn about energy forms that don’t involve plundering expanses of snow-covered wilderness, befouling the air, or risking nuclear meltdown.

The day will feature hands-on demonstrations of a variety of renewable-energy technologies, such as photovoltaic systems and sun-driven cookers (food sampling is encouraged). Most important, several information tables and workshops will offer information on how to solarize your home or work space.

“The vision is to provide an opportunity for people who are interested in clean-energy alternatives to connect with the experts who can help them install the technology and can guide them to the right resources,” says BASEA board member Cindy Luppi, adding that “the political goal of the day is to continue to apply pressure to public officials at every level in Massachusetts, and to be a leader for shifting subsidies into clean-energy technologies so they can be even easier for the general public to afford.”

All this comes at a critical time, considering the recently unveiled national energy plan that not only recommends increased oil drilling, coal mining, and nuclear-plant construction, but actually calls for slashing renewable-energy research by 50 to 85 percent. Says Luppi, with considerable understatement: “We think that sends the wrong message.”

“The other thing I would say is that the human health cost of this coal and nuclear agenda is unacceptable,” she adds. “We think the public is going to push back very visibly and very vocally against it.” We hope she’s right. Stop by on Saturday, and let’s get the ball rolling.

The free event takes place this Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, located at the corner of Vinal Avenue and Summer Street. Call (617) 497-6527 or visit www.basea.org.

Issue Date: June 21 - 28, 2001