Florida Energy Group Nominates Hussein as ‘Solar Man of Year’

Iraq President Saddam Hussein has been nominated for a solar energy industry association’s annual “Solar Man of the Year Award,” the group’s director announced Thursday.

Ed Glenn of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Assn. said the award is given to the person who has contributed most to the development and use of solar energy in the Sunshine State.

He said the Iraqi leader’s nomination for the award was a “tongue-in-cheek gesture” but that the United States’ dependence on imported oil is no laughing matter.

“It is unfortunate that a crisis is so often required to get people’s attention, but the good news is that we can use this warning signal to our advantage by finding ways to cut energy demand and to shift many of our energy uses from limited fossil fuels.”