Another victory for solar power
California has done it again. California has established itself as the nation’s number one place for solar power.
This winter, Environment California celebrated the enactment of the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470). This measure builds on our landmark victory on the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (SB 1) in 2006, which created $3.2 billion in rebates for solar electric technologies.
Authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (Marin) and sponsored by Environment California, the Solar Water Heating Act creates the nation’s first statewide program for solar water heating technologies.
Similar to solar electric systems, such as solar photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters use the sun to heat water. A solar system taking up less than 20 square feet of roof space can capture 90 percent of the sun’s energy to heat water up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. By storing this sun-heated water in an efficient tank, a solar system can cut a home’s energy use 50-75 percent.
How the solar program works
AB 1470, which passed the Legislature in September and was signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 12, 2007, will generate $250 million in ratepayer subsidies for consumer rebates, similar to those currently available for solar electric systems.
By providing a $1,500 rebate per home, this program will cut the payback for a typical solar water system from 20 years to eight or ten. Furthermore, if a homeowner finances the system, typically costing $4,000 to $6,000 before subsidies through a mortgage, the payback can be immediate thanks to tax deductible interest payments.
In order for California’s solar programs to work, the federal government has to follow our lead and renew the federal tax credit for solar power. This federal policy, along with the establishment of a nationwide renewable electricity standard mandating that all utilities generate at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources like solar, wind and geothermal by 2020, have been a top priority of Environment California.
In both efforts, we have worked against powerful industry opposition to rally our members and the public to generate letters and e-mails to decision makers, with our coalition partners including the California Solar Energy Industry Association and low-income advocates. We built broad support, and educated the public and decision makers through the media and research reports about the promise of solar power and other renewable energy technologies.
Of course, we aren’t stopping here.
“Until California is the world’s Saudi Arabia of the sun, exporting more solar power than we can use ourselves, we won’t stop fighting for bigger and more aggressive initiatives,” said Clean Energy Advocate Bernadette Del Chiaro. “The sky is the limit.”
