Editor:

The sun can provide virtually limitless, pollution-free energy to power our lives. Solar energy is also supported by people with a wide range of political backgrounds. Incredibly, support for the development of solar energy ranges from environmentalists all the way to tea party activists. In an increasingly competitive renewable energy market, and with increasingly bipartisan support for solar, what’s getting in the way of our clean energy future?

A recent report from Environment Colorado’s research and policy center, entitled Blocking the Sun, helps shed some light on this — pun very much intended. The report reveals major opposition to the development of solar energy from utility interest groups and fossil fuel industry-funded think tanks that are providing funding, model legislation and political cover for anti-solar campaigns across the United States and in Colorado. Because of the overwhelming public support for solar, these special interests are resorting to some seriously shady tactics to stop the development of solar energy in its tracks.

The Koch brothers, who have an enormous financial stake in the fossil fuel industry through their company Koch Industries and its many subsidiaries, have provided funding to the national fight against solar by funneling tens of millions of dollars through a network of opaque nonprofits like Americans for Prosperity, which has a chapter in Colorado, and is a first-hand participant in Colorado anti-solar campaigns. Through Americans for Prosperity, and by funding anti-solar efforts by other groups, including ALEC, the Koch brothers have funded or participated in fights against solar in Colorado.

The Koch Brothers and their front groups like Americans for Prosperity have resorted to shady tactics to undermine our solar power. Now it’s personal. This is a matter of political monopoly over the public interest and environmental sustainability. Now it’s up to our leaders to reject these attacks and support a clean energy future.

Katie OtterbeckSolar power campaign organizer, Environment ColoradoDenver