Pilgrims and Pioneers…. Happy 4th of July!

The Continental Congress adopted a “Statement” entitled the Declaration of Independence on July 4^th 1776.  Click here for the text.

In this brave declaration, the signers declared their Independence and aired their objections of absolute tyranny as facts to be submitted to a candid world. These sentences prefaced a long list of transgressions. 

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”

As a solar powered two electric vehicle family, I feel a strong connection, a kinship to these words. Having lived under the monopolies of oil and our utility company in a financial form of bondage and tyranny, I have long dreamed of energy independence. Not to be held as high as absolute tyranny and not to be held as high as the bravery and sacrifices of the Continental Congress but  I and others have declared our independence  from the monopolies of big oil and our utilities. It’s a liberating feeling to have done so. I want to encourage my fellow Americans to follow in the paths of the early solar and EV pioneers and to be able to enjoy these freedoms and liberties.

In 2009 we began driving the electric BMW Mini-E,  We drove that car 18,000 miles a year.

We find it liberating that we could provide the power to our car from electricity that we generated on our roof.   We found that making our own fuel was liberating and a measure towards energy independence. We love our home and our life.  We are optimistic about our nation’s future.

We find it liberating   that the significant cost of utilities and gas is replaced by a paid off solar PV system and a utility bill of $300 a year powering our home and cars.  That’s almost $10,000 a year that our family can spend in our community creating American jobs and strengthening our community as opposed to enriching Oil Sheiks and Oil Barrons and exporting our nations wealth. 

We find it liberating that our money is not going to nations that are hostile to the US. 

We find it liberating that our consumption does not contribute to national economic drain caused by the seven trillion dollar expense of securing the waterways and protecting the supply of oil.

We find it liberating that our decision to generate zero emission renewable energy and drive zero emission cars is a small measure towards cleaner cities that most of our nations population live in. 

We find it liberating that we are contributing to the advancement of solar PV and electric cars that will one day soon replace oil. Oil that is so necessary and predictable in its transit routes in the theatre of war, essentially sitting duck oil tankers,  that 40% of our US casualties come from IED’s and attacks of our resupply convoys. That it is measurable for ever 24 fuel convoys an American soldier suffers a casualty and for every 50 fuel convoys an American soldier is killed.  

We find it liberating that we don’t visit gas stations and no longer need to worry about the volatile price spikes of gasoline that so damage the incomes of our families and our nation’s economic health.

We find it liberating that Solar PV and EV’s  are so easy and far less costly to maintain.  Solar PV lasting for 25 years plus and electric cars with 10% of the complexity of gasoline cars.

Our experience is that Solar PV & Electric Cars are a Liberation.

Americans… Democrats and Republicans, all, have always looked to the future, towards freedom and Independence.  With science and technology ushering in new opportunities,  Freedom of choice is allowing for our energy independence. I urge you to exercise that choice and discover how energy independence and freedom feels. 

May sunshine brighten your day.

Happy Independence Day!