Best Blogs: Solar Energy, Running for Congress and More

Did you miss some of the blogs this week on McLean Patch? Each week, we'll round them up in one convenient place for you.

Here are the highlights from blogs that ran Sept. 1 to 7.

• The write this week about Lisa Walsh, the former worldwide director of travel and transportation for IBM, who became a CASA volunteer.
• "Lisa found her CASA case work tough but enlightening. 'I learned that the judges really pay attention to what the CASA volunteers report, because you have a real relationship with the kids,” she said. “It’s way more rewarding than fundraising. As a CASA volunteer, you’re an important part of a team effort to help kids.'"

• Ivy Main writes about how "Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country," but Virginia isn't taking advantage of this technology.
• "Part of the reason is our lack of incentives. Unlike many other states in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, Virginia offers no tax credits or rebates on solar systems to supplement the federal tax credit. And our voluntary renewable portfolio standard is so flabby that our utilities will never need solar to meet it."
• "Virginia also isn’t known for getting out ahead of the curve on energy. Instead of embracing the promise of clean power, the state clings to an old energy model dominated by fossil fuels. Just this year, the General Assembly renewed a subsidy that takes about $45 million every year out of the pockets of taxpayers to support coal mining."

• Jason Howell, an independent candidate running for Congress, writes about his experiences on the campaign trail.
• "In August (2011), I began writing and rewriting a book on the idea of taking action in your life for the sake of causes greater than yourself.  As a writer I had the luxury of taking a break to watch C-SPAN and observe our elected officials work on causes greater than themselves.  They weren’t too good at it."

Are you interested in blogging for Patch? Are you an expert in your field? Are you passionate about your hobby? Our readers are interested in everything from national security to needlepoint. Apply online now.