(SacBee) — Gov. Jerry Brown sees a modern day message for proponents of solar power in the story of Hanukkah.

Speaking at the Capitol Menorah Lighting this morning, the Democratic governor cast the eight-day Jewish holiday, which begins tomorrow, as a good time to reflect on “the whole idea that we’re running out of oil so we need a miracle.”

Today’s miracle, he said, “is not to find more oil, but to utilize the sun.”