RECENT PRESS
May 19, 2010:
Solar Sonoma gaining momentum in county
Momentum for the solar energy and energy efficiency industries in Sonoma County is growing, as the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program celebrates its one-year anniversary and Solar Sonoma County encourages local governments to engage with a Solar Implementation Plan.
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PAST NEWS
First Sonoma County Energy Independence Project Completed
On May 6th, 2009, the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) celebrated the completion of the first energy project and financial award in its history. Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Kelley presented Ann and Deke DeKay of Healdsburg with a check for $25,500 toward the purchase of a solar energy system for their home. Solar Works of Sonoma County installed the system, which became operational on April 22nd. From application to payout, the entire process took less than six weeks.
SCEIP was made possible by California Assembly Bill (AB) 811, whereby local governments can finance property improvements for renewable energy, and energy or water conservation upgrades. SCEIP provides financing for the improvements, and the property owners repay the program over time through their property tax bill. In this way, the program helps to solve the problem of high “up front” costs for these types of projects.
The DeKays chose to install a 5 kilowatt photovoltaic system that is designed to produce as much as 5000 watts. It will generate an average of 35 kilowatt hours per day. Further information about the SCEIP may be obtained here: www.sonomacountyenergy.org
County's AB811 Program on track to help finance solar
Energy plan linked to tax bills
County would become first in California to offer loans for conservation measures
By BLEYS W. ROSE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 3:41 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 3:41 a.m.
In three weeks, Sonoma County officials say they'll launch an innovative -- possibly first in the nation -- energy conservation program that loans money to homeowners so they can install devices such as solar panels, tankless water heaters and double-pane windows...
Read the article
IBEW Helps to Keep Solar Going Strong
Bass Electric has just commissioned 3 large solar projects on 3 local schools and completed the mission in 3 months. The projects started in October of 2008 and had to be completed by the end of the year.
Andre Parlett, the foreman on the job, said he was very pleased by the skilled union electricians he called from the hall. They made it happen. With a crew of 10 Journeyman and apprentices the deadline was made ahead of schedule. All 3 schools were up and running before Christmas.
Cook Middle School is proudly receiving 35% of their power through the clean energy from 1200 solar panels. A 210kw system.
Maria Carrillo High is receiving 32% of their power with 1600 solar panels installed. A 288kw system
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And Elsie Allen High is showing their green power with 2046 panels installed, which takes care of 33% of their power consumption. |
A 358kw system!
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That’s 4846 panels with a total output of 856kw! Good job! Good for the environment! Good for the economy! Stay tuned for more.
Denise D. Soza January 16, 2009
IBEW Business Representative
IBEW Installs North America’s Largest Solar Installation
The largest solar photovoltaic power system in North America went on line in the Nevada desert last December, thanks to the efforts of more than 90 IBEW journeymen and apprentices, largely from our Las Vegas local union. Covering 140 acres of desert just outside of Nellis Air Force Base, the massive solar panel array now provides 30 percent of the base’s power.
Nellis Air Force Base, just northeast of Las Vegas, is one of the Air Force’s main training facilities for fighter pilots, employing more than 8,000 workers. The $100 million, 15 megawatt solar system is expected to eliminate more than 20,000 tons of carbon emissions that would have been produced using traditional energy generation.
The arrays have been fitted with rotating pedestals which automatically turn the 70,000 panels in the direction of the sun, giving the system 10 percent more energy efficiency. The gears are powered directly by solar energy.
The project was a joint venture of the Air Force, the Sun Power Corp., the Nevada Power Co., MWA Renewable Ventures, LLC, and IBEW labor.
Majorly condensed by
Denise D. Soza, August, 2008
Taken from the Electrical Worker Magazine.
Santa Rosa wins Solar America Cities grant
Solar Sonoma County project team to meet with DOE
Santa Rosa, Calif. – Representatives of Santa Rosa’s Solar Sonoma County project will meet with U.S. Department of Energy officials and staff in Tucson, Arizona, April 14-16, to begin work on a countywide solar program to increase and accelerate local solar energy production. Santa Rosa was recently named one of 12 new “Solar America Cities,” which includes federal funding and technical assistance for project implementation, for its Solar Sonoma County grant proposal. The Department of Energy is hosting the meeting in Tucson for “Solar America Cities” named this year and last year, a total of 25 cities nationwide committed to solar technology adoption at the local level...
Download the complete Press Release as a printable PDF
Solar Sebastopol wins grant to expand countywide
Sebastopol, CA – Solar Sebastopol has received a $73,000 grant to expand its community solar energy program to a countywide effort to be called Solar Sonoma County. On December 19, 2007, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors awarded $3 million in Climate Protection Grants to San Francisco Bay Area local governments and nonprofits for implementation of innovative projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Sonoma County (SSC) is envisioned as a regional program, modeled after the highly successful Solar Sebastopol program, to promote and stimulate the generation of clean, renewable, cost-effective solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal energy to supply more of Sonoma County’s energy needs. SSC will support the Sonoma County Supervisors’ and the County’s nine cities’ commitments to their aggressive 2015 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by developing a countywide solar implementation plan with elements to encourage and facilitate widespread adoption of solar energy for building related public, commercial, industrial, and residential electricity, addressing a major source of carbon emissions in this county.
“This is a phenomenal step forward toward a more sustainable future for Sonoma County that was born right here in Sebastopol,” says Sebastopol Mayor Craig Litwin. “Solar Sebastopol began in 2002 in partnership with students from Sonoma State University. This award provides the financial support for successfully linking up with other communities to expand the use of clean, renewable solar energy on a regional level.”
The Solar Sonoma County grant proposal ranked fifth overall out of more than 80 funding applications submitted. The Air District originally planned to award $1.5 million in funds but raised the total award amount due to the overwhelming response as evidence of the tremendous interest in pursuing climate protection and the need for this type of funding. The agency “was impressed by response to this grant program, the high level of creativity and innovation in the applications, and the demonstration of leadership our region is providing for the rest of the country,” according to the Air District announcement.
Solar Sonoma County objectives as outlined in the Air District grant proposal include:
• Addressing the cost barriers for municipal and residential solar through development of or partnership with a scalable, replicable market-based financing model.
• Providing a central clearinghouse for local government policies and best practices to encourage solar installation.
• Encouraging energy efficiency and conservation measures to reduced overall electricity demand.
• Conducting an ongoing public education and marketing campaign to promote solar energy.
SSC will seek the direct involvement of all of Sonoma County’s cities, the County Government, solar industry stakeholders, and other interested business, organizations, and individuals as part of a membership organization that collectively will determine the overarching vision, refine program goals, and develop and direct specific projects. The California Energy Commission, Senator Pat Wiggins, Assemblymember Patty Berg, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the Green Energy Loan program support SSC.
In November, an ad hoc group of representatives from numerous municipalities in Sonoma County, solar energy companies, labor groups, and Pacific Gas & Electric began meeting and formed an SSC Steering Committee to move forward with a countywide solar effort.
About Solar Sebastopol
Established in 2002, Solar Sebastopol is a local first-of-its-kind program to encourage more solar energy on residential, business, and public properties in Sebastopol. The program’s is to install 1 megawatt of solar power production in Sebastopol, equivalent to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on about 500 average-size homes. From the outset, Solar Sebastopol garnered national and international media attention as the first community solar program of its kind. The program has served as a model of innovation for smaller communities that initially were looking for ways to increase local control over energy costs
As of July 2007, Sebastopol has installed 400,000 watts (400 kW) of solar within city limits, or 40% of the 1-megawatt (1,000 kW) goal, with 105.5 kW installed on City of Sebastopol properties. This year the City of Sebastopol received three awards from the NorCal Solar Energy Association in 2007 for installing more PV watts per capita than other small communities in the greater Bay Area. More than 1.4 Megawatts of solar PV has been installed in the greater Sebastopol area.
For more information about Solar Sebastopol, visit www.solarsebastopol.com
