It’s action time.  One of the most important solar bills in the California legislature faces a critical vote in the Senate Appropriations committee on Thursday, August 7.  We need your help to get it through.

AB 1451 (Leno) would extend the current property tax exemption for solar installations-due to sunset in 2009–to match the California Solar Initiative, and make some tweaks to make it more useful for builders incorporating solar in new home construction.  It’s also critical for the utility-scale solar industry, leveling the playing field with fossil-fuel plants and reducing solar’s cost by about a penny per kWh.

All told, AB 1451 makes everything we are trying to do with energy in the state, from AB 32 to the California Solar Initiative to the Renewable Portfolio Standard, cheaper and easier.

We can’t afford to lose this one.

Take action here votesolar.org and here Solar Nation

Also, if you are interested in lowering the cost of solar energy for your home by buying in a group, sign up at 1bog.org today.

Solar supporters,

Thank you again for your tireless advocacy to advance our local solar rebate program into implementation. I’m very pleased to report that the solar rebate program is up and running through our SFPUC. Information on how to capture these rebates can be found on the PUC’s website:

Next, we are working closely with the City of Berkeley and Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval’s Office to implement a low-interest loan program for property owners to install solar. We believe that a local loan program coupled with a rebate program will advance our efforts to expand solar generation in the city. This low-interest loan program allows property owners to borrow funds for the cost of their solar installation through a low-interest rate secured by the City, and then pay this loan back over time through their property taxes.

The week of July 21, Supervisor Sandoval’s ordinance enabling this loan program will be heard at a Board of Supervisors committee. I am working with Supervisor Sandoval’s aide, Nick Kinsey, to ensure passage of this ordinance. I am giving Nick your contact information to update you on the advancement of this ordinance. We would ask solar supporters to indicate their support for the program and ordinance in the coming weeks.

Nick is copied on this email and I will ask him to provide a copy of the legislation and explanation of the approval process through a separate email.

If you have any questions in the meantime, or would like your email removed from this update list, please contact me.

Thank you very much,
Wade

Wade Crowfoot
Director of Climate Protection Initiatives
Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom

The April/May issue of Home Power magazine features a story by Kelly Davidson entitled “The Best States for Solar” that features criteria for selection one would not expect. It’s not the number of sunny days nor the latitude that makes a good solar state, but strong incentives, regulatory policies that are looking ahead, and strong support for setting renewable energy usage targets. Listed alphabetically, they are:

1. California

Its California Solar Initiative calls for a $3.3 billion, ten-year program that will help CA hold its position as the leading producer of solar technologies in the US, and one of the largest solar markets in the world

2. Colorado

300 sunny days per year help, but this state maximizes its solar assets by offering rebates, loans, and tax exemptions for PV systems while spurring growth of green collar jobs by encouraging solar tech and PV manufacturing. Read the rest of this entry »