Energy In the News

Assembly Member Saldana lends support to Solar Hot Water Initiative

SACRAMENTO – Leaders of California’s solar industry, along with legislators, environmental and educational groups, gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday to harness the power of the sun. As temperatures reached near 100 degrees, solar companies demonstrated how highly efficient solar water heaters can capture energy from the sun to make cold water hot, dramatically reducing dependence on fossil fuels, cutting air pollution and lowering energy bills.

Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego), a coauthor of The Solar Hot Water and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470), said that a statewide incentive program for this technology is simply common sense.

“These systems allow homes and businesses to slice their natural gas consumption by half,” she said. “ This helps consumers reduce their energy consumption, lower greenhouse emissions from traditional natural-gas water heating systems, and save on their energy bills.”

“I’m pleased to have been a strong advocate for solar water heating technology and look forward to seeing a fully developed market for these systems in California.”

“Harnessing the California sun to solve global warming and save consumers money is a no-brainer,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Clean Energy Advocate for Environment California, co-sponsor of today’s event along with the California Solar Energy Industry Association. “Solar water heating is yet another powerful technology that can help make California the Saudi Arabia of the sun.”

Lawmakers, environmental groups and businesses gathered during today’s educational event in support of The Solar Hot Water and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470), authored by Assemblymember Huffman, chair of Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials, and sponsored by Environment California. Assemblymembers Leno, Krekorian, DeSaulnier, Carter and Levine also spoke at today’s event

“Solar power represents a significant energy resource for California,” said Assemblymember Huffman, the author of AB 1470. “California can continue to seek greater energy independence, fight global warming, and save homeowners and businesses money by encouraging a mainstream market for solar water heating.”

AB 1470 is a companion bill to the Million Solar Roofs bill (SB 1 -Murray) signed into law last year. AB 1470 would create rebates for solar water heaters through a small surcharge on gas bills. A typical roof can support both a solar electric and a solar water heating system.

“AB 1470 is a historic bill for California,” said Sue Kately, Executive Director of the California Solar Energy Industry Association. “The solar water industry is growing by leaps and bounds world-wide. With this bill, California can step back into the lead bringing the state cleaner air, greater energy independence and more jobs.

During Tuesday’s event numerous displays were set up on the North Capitol Lawn to demonstrate how solar water heaters work and the benefits of a mainstream solar power market. Today’s educational booths included those by Solarhart, Heliodyne, Sierra Pacific Solar, SunTechnics, FAFCO, CALSEIA, Davis Energy Group, California Sustainable Energy Center, Rahus Institute, Trendsetter Industries and The Solar Depot. CALSEIA provided free ice-cream cones, kept cool with solar electric power by an Akeena Solar mobile photovoltaic truck, were handed out as well. Also present at the event today was the Clean Power Campaign and Planning and Conservation League.