Award-Winning Clean-Tech Entrepreneur Debuts Book Establishing Solar Power as Our Nation's Biggest Untold Economic Story

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading clean-tech entrepreneur Danny Kennedy today debuts his book, "Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy – and Our Planet – from Dirty Energy" to boldly debunk the many myths surrounding the solar industry and unveil simple ways that the public and policymakers alike can engage in generating positive change.  With a foreword by the former supreme commander of NATO and former U.S. presidential candidate, General Wesley Clark, the book uses objective research and Kennedy's front-line experience to lay out the win-win proposition of solar energy for the American economy.   As of today, the book is available widely in both electronic and print versions and via Kindle, and more information is available at www.rooftoprevolutionbook.com.

Amidst the political energy policy debate, the 1-year anniversary of the Solyndra bankruptcy and threatening blackouts in parts of the nation, Kennedy – a life-long activist turned successful clean tech business entrepreneur recently profiled in The New York Times Magazine - tackles the industry's toughest criticisms and makes the case for his solar focused, clean energy revolution. "Rooftop Revolution" boldly contends that the economic, security and environmental imperatives for solar power are so strong that the time is now for businesspeople, policymakers and homeowners to come together to combat "King CONG" – the monolithic dirty energy lobby of "Coal, Oil, Nuclear and Gas".  To this end, at the end of every chapter, Kennedy equips readers with a practical guide to becoming "Rooftop Revolutionaries" - active advocates to bring about a 21^st century economy.

"Solar energy isn't a left or right issue: it's an economic one, and it should be a central part of the election cycle dialogue on how to fix our economy.  There is in fact a clear economic imperative for clean energy now, and despite myths and misperceptions,  solar power is already at work creating jobs, saving American households on their utility costs and securing both our workforce and our borders from the ills of dirty energy," says Kennedy.  "The sun's reliability coupled with recent manufacturing efficiencies in our industry, make solar energy a more affordable, cleaner and safer way to power our lives. It's not the energy source of the future, it's the energy source of now."

Throughout "Rooftop Revolution", Kennedy cites key statistics, including:

• The solar industry creates jobs -  domestic jobs at a rate 10 times faster than the rest of the economy (2011 National Solar Census)
• Solar energy saves people money - By 2015, the Department of Energy estimates that two-thirds of U.S. homes will save money using solar.
• The steep drop of in solar panel prices (50 percent since 2010), has benefitted American homeowners.
• Smart money continues to flow in to the solar industry. Global investment in renewable energy was $260 billion in 2011 (up from $243 in 2010) – and half of it went to solar.

"Dependent on millions of barrels of imported fuel for decades, the U.S. has squandered its lives, treasure and legacy in grasping for foreign-sourced petroleum, while sitting on the most abundant energy resources and intellectual capital in the world," said General Wesley Clark.  "Today, the opportunity presents itself in the solar industry to reverse these decades of failure, create millions of new jobs, and put America on top of the world energy markets. But there are formidable political, regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles to this vision. And these, too, are part of Danny's story."

A life-long clean energy advocate, Kennedy has worked on climate and energy issues for more than two decades.  He was named 2011 "Innovator of the Year" by PBS for providing a high-impact and commercially-viable solution that responds to the world's environmental challenges.  Kennedy founded the leading residential solar power company Sungevity in 2007 to create a more widely accessible way of going solar for American households.  As president of the company, he oversees government relations and community engagement programs.

"Rooftop Revolution lays out, in clear and engaging language, how we got into the energy mess we're in now and how we can get out – benefiting the planet, creating jobs and saving homeowners money," said Annie Leonard, creator of the film and book "The Story of Stuff".

For more information and a video of Danny Kennedy presenting the book, visit www.rooftoprevolutionbook.com.

High-resolution images available upon request.

SOURCE Danny Kennedy