The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is engaging the public in discussions about solar energy policy through public solar outreach workshops In the wake of the defeat of Measure B (a proposed city ordinance to install 400 megawatts of solar panels around LA), the City Council recommended that LADWP consult with the public about what people want in the way of solar. The input received during these workshops, scheduled throughout the month of September 2009, will be incorporated in a summary report prepared for the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

The Vote Solar Initiative, a non profit organization and legislative lobbyist with the aim of bringing solar into the mainstream, has urged renewable energy advocates to express to LADWP what they want in terms of solar: “Tell LADWP that you want the opportunity for homes, schools, businesses and public agencies to go solar to reduce their electricity bills. That means full funding and follow-through of the California Solar Initiative rebate program.

LADWP’s share is 280 MW of incentives to help Los Angeles residents go solar. Vote Solar wants to ensure that LADWP does the most it can to bring solar into the renewable energy mix. In order to do this the public must make their voices heard and encourage LADWP to, as Vote Solar suggests, purchase wholesale solar generation of every stripe, including centralized solar thermal electric plants (a benefit of such plants is energy storage, something solar panels cannot do). The California Public Utilities Commission is developing a new market-based feed-in tariff program that could possibly provide a model.

To LA residents: Encourage LADWP to do the most with its incentives and invest in a variety of solar energy technologies.

To voice your opinions on solar, participate in the LADWP public workshops being held this month. There are three workshops that you can still attend, on the 26th, the 29th, and the 30th (Sign up at  http://www.ladwpsolarnews.com/workshops )

This is your chance to ensure that solar is available in your area!

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact us!

Two House Democrats, Reps. Jay Inslee of Washington and Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts are preparing a bill to encourage renewable energy. This feed-in tariff proposal will require utilities to purchase small-scale renewable energy from developers at rates equal to the cost of production plus a premium. This provides a security for investors that encourages the development of renewable energy technology. A feed-in tariff can be more effective than other renewable energy initiatives because it staggers rate incentives for different energy sources based on their production costs. For example, utilities would pay a lower rate for wind energy that right now is less expensive than solar energy. One weakness is that it the feed-in tariff is only an incentive for the next-closest-to-competitive technology (right now, wind). However, proponents assume that what is cheapest today won’t be cheapest tomorrow and it actually creates a race to be the next competitive alternative to fossil fuel.

One successful example of this is in Germany. A feed-in tariff is credited with the recent boom in solar energy. Germany has since become the world’s largest market for photovoltaic systems and wind energy. It has more than doubled its supply of renewable energy between 2000 and 2007. It has also generated 117,000 jobs between 2004 and 2008.

As you may or may not know, One Block Off the Grid is part of Virgance, as are Carrotmob and Greeen Options Media. Green Options Media runs a blog network with several big players in the green blogosphere. They recently kicked off a series featuring the CEOs of large solar power integrators. These articles are a wealth of information about the status of the sector. I mean, they’re incredible. Three articles in the series are up so far with six total slated (and probably a few more after that).  Here are the articles so far:

• Green Businesses May Need to Change their Colors by Lyndon Rive (CEO of SolarCity), where he talks about how the solar energy industry only reaches mass adoption by not only providing true value but messaging about solar’s financial benefits in tandom with it’s environmental ones.
• Building a Solar Company in a Recession Economy by Jeff Wolfe (CEO of GroSolar), about innovation as a solar installation company and making mistakes but learning from them along the way.
• Beyond Subsidized Solar Power: The Path to Grid Parity by Angiolo Laviziano (CEO of REC Solar), a very analytical article about what regions are closest to solar being economical without any incentives, and what we need to do to get there
• PV Oversupply is good fo solar customers and planet earth: by Danny Kennedy (CEO of Sungevity), an article that hits home about providing services and ease-of-access as being possibly more important to the tipping point for solar as the technology itself.

Coming soon are a few others (SunRun, HelioPower, and others).

If there’s any sort of series like the CEO of Solar Companies Series that you’d like to see, let me know maybe we can get them to do it (just leave a comment below).

From votesolar.org:

“Friends,

In a matter of weeks, Congress will debate the largest, most ambitious clean energy bill our country has ever seen.  Leadership recently announced that they plan to combine three key initiatives into one colossal bill: global warming policy (cap and trade), national requirements for utilities to produce a percentage of their power from renewables (Renewable Portfolio Standard), and updates to our antiquated transmission system so we can take full advantage of all that renewable energy. 

All of this before summer break. Wowza.

Write your Representatives and Senators to request that they fly their solar flag proudly by signing onto the “solar support” letters circulating in Congress. You can read the House letter here, and the Senate letter here.

All joking aside, this is a once in a decade opportunity and so far there are only 15 members of the House and 2 Senators on the letters. We have A LOT of education to do up in Capitol Hill, and we hope you will help us out. 

Thank you for joining the solar revolution.

Onwards,

Annie + Vote Solar Team”

From earthhour.org’s website

“VOTE EARTH - YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.“

LISTEN  PODCAST

“Mayor Newsom’s guests this week are Van Jones, Founder and President of Green For All and Dave Llorens, Founder of 1 Block Off the Grid (1BOG). Van is the author of the New York Times best seller, The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. 1BOG organizes homeowners to bargain together with businesses to drive down the costs of renewable energy installation.1BOG launched in San Francisco in June 2008, the day after San Francisco passed GoSolarSF, the nation’s largest municipal solar incentive program. 1BOG has spread to 20 cities since its launch. 1BOG was responsible for 20% of allSan Francisco properties that converted to solar in the fourth quarter of 2008.On Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama announced that the nation’s economic stimulus plan will invest heavily in the green collar economy to put Americans back to work and improve our environment.”

Sources of Electricity in California – Here is a list:

Together we can send a strong message that California is ready to get serious about Renewable Energy!

2007 Total System Power in Gigawatt Hours

*Note: In earlier years the in-state coal number included coal fired power plants owned by California utilities

Source: gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov

1BOG was recently featured in a 3 page article The San Francisco Chronicle.  The response from this exposure has been overwhelming and we have had about 300 applicants because of it so far.  We hope to secure very favorable terms fro the group in January.  

From the article:

” Here’s how it works:

– 1BOG invites people to become a member by signing up through its online registry. Joining 1BOG is free; members are under no obligation to buy a system and are forwarded to an installer only if they want to proceed.

– It requests data from its members: What is their electrical usage; how big a system do they require?

– It initiates a competitive bidding process to, as Ventura said in an e-mail, ensure the “best overall pricing, terms and services” for its members. “We negotiate pricing based on numbers of registrants,” Ventura said in the e-mail. “The bigger the group, the larger the savings.”

– Once 1BOG signs up a solar firm, it puts its members in touch with the solar installer. The installer then does an on-site evaluation of each home, and that’s it. The work of 1BOG is done.”

The $2000 Federal Solar Tax Credit for residential solar energy installations was slated to disappear at the end of 2008.

Many times Congress has attempted to pass a bill to extend solar tax credits and many times the bills have failed.  It was looking pretty bleak until some tax incentives for renewable energy were added on to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2009.

There are many solar tax credits but here are the most important ones applicable to the residential market and what they mean:

(Keep in mind we are not tax professionals and please don’t act on any of this information without consulting a tax professional.)

1.  30% Federal Solar Tax Credit Extended

The 30% Tax credit was extended for 8 years, and the $2000 cap was removed for residences.  That means huge things for the residential market and your pocketbook, as well, if you install solar energy on your home.  Let’s say the average solar installation is $30,000, well now you’re talking about $10,000 in tax benefits vs. the old $2000… it’s a big change.  The new way starts on Jan 1st, 2008, and the demarking event that decides when it was “placed in service” is the interconnection by the utility.

2.  Alternative Minimum Filers can now get the credit

This used to kill a lot of projects on small commercial applications when the owners or partners were paying AMT… now they can still take advantage of the 30% investment tax credit for solar.

More information: Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates by State and City

So I spent about 8 months following this San Francisco solar subsidy through it’s political infancy, and then it’s obnoxious political holdup, on one of my blogs.  Then I watched it mutate into several different forms before becoming “solid law,” and then mutating some more after that.  I think it’s finally crystallized to where I can confidently summarize it in one post instead of an ongoing blog.  Here goes:

(Also… this is a long post.  If you get confused you can call my cell at 408-833-9135 and ask any questions you might have and I’ll do my best to answer them. )

RESIDENTIAL REBATES:

• $6000 per meter if you use an installer that has hired a graduate from the city workforce development program.  Any installer who wants to remain competitive, and can pay for a new full-time employee… Well, you can bet your britches that they are doing this or have already done this.  Here’s (annoying to try and read) list of installers.  The small mom-and-pop operations are in trouble here because it’s tough for them to take one on.
• $5000 per meter if you live in 94107, or 94124, and use an installer who does not have one of the above graduates hired.
• $4000 if you use an installer who is a “local installer” meaning they fit a set of guidelines for having their business located in SF, the mother of which guidelines is “paying 51% of your payroll tax to San Francisco.”  This is a short list of companies and is usually trumped by the $6000 incentive that anyone can get if they hire a graduate.
• $3000 for if you don’t meet any of the above

BUSINESS INCENTIVES

• $1500 per kilowatt size of system up to a max of $10K.  How do you decide if you are a “business?”  -You need a commercial power bill.  You can get up to $10K per meter.

NON-PROFIT INCENTIVES

It gets a little complicated here.  There’s an additional $1.5M in funding for a non-profit version of this subsidy program that is a pilot program, lasting for 1 year or until the money is gone.

• $1500 per kilowatt, just like the businesses, except it doesn’t have the $10,000 cap, you can go as big as you’d like
• $4500 per kilowatt (huge) if you have multi-unit housing as part of your non-profit.  This is capped at $30,000.  To save you the math, this is maximized with a 6.66kW CEC AC system.

LOW-INCOME INCENTIVES

OK, so all the subsidies above are mutually exclusive; you can’t stack any of them up.   The low income subsidy is ADDITIVE, you can get it in addition to any of the RESIDENTIAL subsidies

• $5000 if you are “low income.”  (Don’t blow this off though and assume that you are not low income, because you might be surprised at what qualifies).

FAQ (also, here is the CITY’S FAQ which has more detail on some questions)

Q.  Can’t I just get a super tiny system and have this pay for the whole thing?

A.  minimum size is 1kW, but if you add up the state and city that’s pretty close to a yes.

Q.  Can you assign the rebate to the installer so it comes off the top and it’s not part of my out-of-pocket expense?

A.  The short answer is yes, but not a lot of companies (none that I know of) are doing that at the moment.  This will probably change over the law’s 10 year lifespan.  They claim turnaround time is 1mo. after installation so you’re only out of pocket that extra amount for a short period.

Q.  Do I have to pay tax on it?

A.  Yes.  It’s a cash incentive, really, not a rebate (like the state incentive).  Whoever gets it is going to have to fill out a W9 before they get a check.  However, I’m not tax attorney so please consult your tax professional before listening to anything I ever say.

Q.  I heard I have to add San Francisco to my home insurance policy is that true?

A.  Yah :-(  that’s a new thing but something they’ve finally worked out and have streamlined it for systems under 30kW in size.  So it’s a sight pain and may cost a few bucks but it’s obviously worth it for a free $6000 check.

Q.  How much money is left?

A.  SF new you’d be asking that question so often that it would annoy them, so they built THIS WEBPAGE (finally)

Q.  What do I do if I’m a renter?

A.  honestly, I helped pioneer this model, so the best thing to do is probably call me (408-833-9135).  The thing is that you have to get your landlord on board, which will be really tough to do unless the Investment Tax Credit gets extended to 09.  On that note: CALL YOUR SENATOR!