Posted on 12/13/2005 5:25:39 PM PST by calcowgirl
For Immediate Release:
12/13/2005 For More Information:
Contact Bernadette Del Chiaro
(916) 446-8062 x 103
SAN FRANCISCO—The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) officially unveiled its version of the Million Solar Roofs program, called the California Solar Initiative, proposing an 11-year, $2.9 billion incentive program to install 3,000 MW of solar on a million homes, businesses, farms, schools and municipal buildings. The program, if approved in mid-January by the 5-member Public Utilities Commission, will be the nation’s largest solar power investment and the first-ever program designed to make solar power mainstream and affordable, without aid of subsidies, within a decade.
“With this program, California can finally get on track to becoming the world solar power leader,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California, a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental advocacy group. “Given California’s abundant sunshine and growing economy, this program has the potential to make California the Saudi Arabia of solar power.”
The California Solar Initiative proposes a $2.9 billion pot of money without rate increases for most customers. The money would come from $350 million in existing funds already earmarked for solar power and an additional surcharge –1/8th a penny per kilowatt hour – or 60¢ on the average residential monthly electric bill over eleven years. According to the proposal, this additional surcharge will not impact rates because the Rate Reduction Bonds authorized during California’s electric restructuring law will expire in 2007 leaving “additional headroom in utility rates.”
According to a staff report prepared by the PUC last summer, this $2.9 billion investment in solar could save California ratepayers an estimated $10 billion from a reduced need to build two dozen peaking power plants or to purchase expensive electricity during peak summer hours.
“Given this high energy bills and the urgent need to reduce the state’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, this landmark solar initiative is exactly what California’s economy and environment need,” added Del Chiaro who’s organization has spent the past six months talking directly with more than 250,000 Californians about solar power. “Poll after poll show that these kinds of forward-thinking clean energy solutions are what the majority of California voters are demanding.”
Other benefits of investing in solar power include cleaner air and more jobs. For every solar roof, at least one ton of global warming pollution is reduced. In addition, for every megawatt of solar power installed, up to 7 jobs are created, a 7-fold increase over the number of jobs created from building the equivalent capacity in natural gas power plants.
Today’s proposal comes at the request of Governor Schwarzenegger and mirrors the bulk of the Governor-backed Million Solar Roofs bill (SB 1), which was also broadly support by the state Legislature. The other policy elements contained in SB 1, such as net metering and making solar panels a standard option on new homes, will require legislative approval in 2006 to support the California Solar Initiative unveiled by the PUC today.
“After three years of working to pass this kind of far reaching solar policy, this proposal is a breath of fresh air,” added Del Chiaro. “Now, California will mean business when it comes to making solar power mainstream and affordable for all.”
The PUC’s 11-year solar proposal is expected to be voted on by PUC in mid-January, after a 30 day public comment period initiated today. If adopted, the program is likely to go into effect by the start of 2007. In the meantime, this Thursday, December 15th, the PUC is expected to vote on the first stage of the California Solar Initiative, an interim program to triple the amount of money available in 2006 for solar on businesses and municipal buildings, from the current $50-100 million level to $300 million. In addition, $58 million remains available for homeowners and small businesses to invest in solar panels via the California Energy Commission’s rebate program in 2006.
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF PROPOSED CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE
PUC’s California Solar Initiative Proposal 12/13/05 (PDF FILE)
Environment California is a non-profit, non-partisan state-based environmental organization supported by 77,000 members statewide. Environment California has been the leading environmental advocacy group supporting the Million Solar Roofs bill since 2003. For more information about our Million Solar Roofs campaign visit www.environmentcalifornia.org.
SAN FRANCISCO - State energy officials, seeking to revive a key element of the Schwarzenegger administration's push to expand renewable energy use, on Monday outlined a plan to increase annual spending on new solar energy units to nearly $300 million.
The plan, set for formal release today, would shuffle programs among state agencies in order to revive the administration's high-profile program to build 1 million homes with units to make electricity from the sun.
That initiative died in the Legislature this year after the administration balked at union wage guarantees sought by Democrats. The new solar push aims to bypass the Legislature by tapping the state Public Utilities Commission's authority to collect money from electricity customers and spend it to boost subsidies to homes and businesses that install solar units.
Currently, two state agencies spend about $80 million annually to subsidize solar power installations. The new solar plan takes existing programs, "keeps them going and focuses them where they have the greatest impact," said Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, a member of the state Energy Commission. The proposal, which requires approval by the PUC, calls for spending $3.2 billion over 11 years to install 2,600 megawatts of solar capacity.
By comparison, PG&E's largest power plant -- its Diablo Canyon nuclear facility -- can produce 2,220 megawatts.
The new plan would not include requirements that new-home builders install solar energy units and that utilities buy excess power from home and business solar units. Those measures would require legislation.
The new solar initiative was unveiled at a joint meeting of the state Energy Commission and PUC that was also attended by two members of Schwarzenegger's cabinet.
(snip)
I notice there's not too much detail on how much this solar powered electricity will cost per kilowat hour. I guess that doesn't matter, as long as they all feel good and the taxpayers foot the bill.
Free solar power for all illegals.
Why not? California has TONS of Money, next stop for this charade and Light Rail... New Orleans!
Taxpayers are so gullible.
TT
A lot. In addition, since the peak sun is at noon and peak residential consumption is in the evening, storage devices [lead acid batteries] are normally used in standalone systems.
Kalifornians can't be bothered to build a real power plant in the state but want to spend billions on a power source that only works 12 hours out of every day barring clouds. Smart. Real smart.
> I notice there's not too much detail on how much this
> solar powered electricity will cost per kilowat hour.
Or if the cells will ever recover their costs, apt to be
higher since November due to the Motech (Taiwan) fire.
In the near future, Cali will either need to file for bankruptcy or state income tax rates on individuals with be higher than federal income tax rates.
"[lead acid batteries] are normally used in standalone systems."
I was just about to post that. Batteries of some sort will be needed to store the electricity. Will the people who take up the offer from the state get reimbursed somewhat for the batteries? Or will it be for the solar panels alone? Batteries are not cheap, just think of the layout the home owner or small business owner would make at the start ... thousands if you needed a couple of dozen batteries.
A good idea since I have heard that more energy in the form of sunlight hits the earth each day than all the power ever produced by man.
But ... I have to think ... if it is such a good idea, whay have people not gone ahead and done this by now without waiting for some state reimbursment or tax write off?
I'm still waiting for the nuculer fussion power plants ... a gallon of sea water will power NYC for a month.
No.
According to the proposal, this additional surcharge will not impact rates because the Rate Reduction Bonds authorized during California’s electric restructuring law will expire in 2007 leaving “additional headroom in utility rates.”
"Environment California, a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental advocacy group"
BullSh*t! There is no such animal. All environmental advocay groups are intensely politically partisan. Virtually on the left wing.
Well, maybe the state of CA would undertake to build, maintain and operate large battery banks? IMHO, it would serve these greenpissers right.
Ping
Thats only in a stand-alone setup. What China and Germany
are doing is tying into the "grid". You sometimes put in more than you use and then take out when the cell's aren't providing enough. Actually works well.
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