Time for O’Reilly to put his money where his mouth is.Photo: Justin HochCross-posted from Climate Progress.
Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly likes to say he operates in a “no spin zone.” So when O’Reilly proclaimed recently that he wanted to install solar panels on his Long Island home, dozens of solar companies in New York took him at his word.
Speaking on his show to Alan Colmes last week, O’Reilly said he was ready to buy a solar system, but that he couldn’t find anyone in the area to do it: “There’s nowhere, no one,” he exclaimed.
Well, his predicament is solved. A group of 60 New York-based solar companies have signed an open letter to O’Reilly explaining that they’d be more than willing to help him make an investment in solar:
Dear Mr. O’Reilly,
We hear you are ready to go solar pending your ability to locate a solar provider. We represent some of the hundreds of solar companies currently operating in New York State. We would be happy to help you get started with your investment in solar so you can join the many New Yorkers who are already saving money on their monthly utility bills by generating their own power.
Signed,
Clean Power Finance
Community Energy
EcoOutfitters.net
Energy by Choice
ETM Solar Works
Innovated Energy Solutions
KPS Solar
Mercury Solar Systems
One Block Off the Grid
RH Innovation Inc
SolarCity
Sungevity
Sunrise Energy Concepts
SunRun
Suntech America
Trinity Solar
Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) — representing 20 companies with solar operations in New York
Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association (LIPA) — representing 25 solar electric contractors on Long Island
Dave Llorens, CEO of the fast-growing solar company One Block Off the Grid, says he could draft a quote for O’Reilly in minutes:
There are tons of solar installers that work on Long Island. We can show him the economics of solar (and they are strong there) by whipping up a quote for his house in 10 minutes. If Bill is serious about actually installing solar, we’d be delighted to help him understand the investment.
So there you have it: Can we take Bill O’Reilly, the self-proclaimed master of “no spin,” at his word? With the cost of solar continuing to fall, and dozens of companies to choose from, this is the perfect opportunity for him to invest in a system.
If you want to see O’Reilly back up his word, we suggest sending him this tweet:
Over 60 NY #solar companies can help Bill O’Reilly of the @oreillyfactor install a system. Will he live up to his word? http://bit.ly/vjY43z
