|
Solar Sebastopol Opens Headquarters source: press release 2003.12.04 Solar Sebastopol, a citywide program to install a megawatt of solar energy by 2005, recently established its program headquarters in downtown Sebastopol. Centrally located one block off Bodega Highway at 130 Petaluma Avenue, Suite A, the new Solar Sebastopol offices also house the staff of Cooperative Community Energy, the solar energy cooperative partnering with the City of Sebastopol to manage its municipal solar campaign. The Solar Sebastopol program includes raising general awareness about Sebastopol's solar goal, educating people about solar energy, helping property owners determine whether solar makes practical and financial sense, and managing individual solar installation projects. "We’re glad to be in a local office at last!" says Solar Sebastopol program manager Pete Blair. "Our staff lives and works in the Sebastopol area, and going from a virtual office to a real one is a great feeling. Our in-town location helps to increase awareness among Sebastopol homeowners and businesses that the Solar Sebastopol program is alive and thriving!" Upcoming outreach plans include hosting a series of free, informational solar workshops, educating local schools as well as business and civic groups about the benefits of solar energy, and contacting property owners directly through City of Sebastopol mailings and communications. The program’s inaugural outreach event, the Solar Sebastopol Fair and Celebration, was held at the Sebastopol Community Center last August and attended by an estimated 2,000 people. Since then, CCEnergy representatives have been conducting dozens of site visits at local homes and businesses, and working with local contractors to initiate solar installation projects. Solar Sebastopol helps homeowners and businesses take advantage of state-subsidized solar energy financing incentives while they're still available. For many homeowners, the monthly cost of a solar system is less than current electricity bills. Residential solar systems usually pay for themselves within 10-12 years (possibly sooner if utility prices rise). Declining solar equipment costs combined with state and federal incentives can cut installation costs by as much as half. For businesses, the case for going solar is often even more compelling due to the unique tax incentives, investment benefits, and utility cost savings gained by installing a solar energy system. Many businesses can generate an immediate return on this investment. To help make solar energy more affordable and easier, the City of Sebastopol has: -Earmarked $100,000 to carry the rebate amount of property owners’ installation costs, meaning far lower out-of-pocket expenses to initiate a solar energy project. -Cut the cost of building permits and streamlined the process. Instead of weeks, permits can be obtained in a matter of days. -Led by example, installing solar panels on the city’s Fire Department and Public Works buildings. The city is exploring several more possible locations for solar installations. Solar Sebastopol is attracting widespread attention as an innovative program. An October 3 editorial in the San Jose Mercury News said "the most interesting development on the solar energy front comes from Sebastopol, a community of 8,000 in Sonoma County.... Given the gridlock in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, it is encouraging to see local governments in California responding to consumers who strongly support solar energy. If all goes well, tiny Sebastopol could show the rest of the state and nation how local communities can take their energy future into their own hands." For more information about Solar Sebastopol, call 707-829-1999 or see: www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/ or www.ccenergy.com/news/solarsebastopol.html. About CCEnergy CCEnergy is an organization for people who want clean energy for
their homes, businesses, and communities. CCEnergy provides discounts
on renewable energy equipment, design and project management services,
and a strong voice in energy policy. CCEnergy recognizes that our
energy future depends on far more than the successes of individual
renewable energy businesses. By nurturing a "cooperative community"
of solar installers, solar designers, energy efficiency consultants,
local government managers, building department officials, financing
institutions, and consumers, CCEnergy is working to grow a sustainable
renewable energy market where all participants thrive. For more
information, see: www.ccenergy.com. Pete Blair or Lori Houston +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SEBASTOPOL, Calif., December 5, 2003 – Two Acre Wood, a 14-unit cohousing community near downtown Sebastopol, just completed the installation of a 3.5-kilowatt solar energy system today as part of the city’s two-year Solar Sebastopol campaign. Cohousing resident and local environmental activist Marty Roberts, one of the founding members of Solar Sebastopol, spearheaded the Two Acre Wood solar project. The system will provide electricity for the common house and outdoor lighting. Roberts is also a founding member of the four-year-old cohousing community. While she has long been interested and active in promoting renewable energy, only this year did declining costs and financial incentives for solar finally become compelling enough to convince fellow cohousing members to make the purchase. By taking advantage of the California Energy Commission’s Emerging Renewables rebate program, Two Acre Wood will get back about half of the solar system’s cost. The homeowners’ association is self-financing the remaining cost. For about the same monthly payment as the utility charges to supply electricity for the complex’s common house and outdoor lighting, Two Acre Wood will pay down the loan and own its solar system outright within about 10 years. For Roberts, a graduate of Sonoma State University’s environmental studies program, the solar system at Two Acre Wood is part of making a dream come true. She is one of the original members of an ad hoc citizens’ group who formed the "Solar Sebastopol" committee. The group met for two years hoping to initiate a solar bond measure for Sebastopol. In 2002, the committee invited students from the SSU’s Energy Management Design Program to conduct a solar feasibility study under the guidance of Prof. Alexandra von Meier. The Sebastopol City Council endorsed the study’s conclusions and set a goal of installing 1 megawatt of solar power in Sebastopol by 2005. The city subsequently partnered with Cooperative Community Energy, a solar equipment buyers’ cooperative, to implement a citywide program that officially began in March 2003. Solar Sebastopol program components include: -Raising general awareness about the city’s solar goal Solar Sebastopol is helping local homeowners and businesses take advantage of state-subsidized solar energy financing incentives while such funds are still available. Solar systems must be connected to a utility meter to be eligible for the state rebate, like the system installed at Two Acre Wood. Under the state’s net metering law, when such solar systems produce more power than used, the excess electricity is fed back into the power grid, literally spinning the utility meter backwards. The meter measures both usage and generation, crediting excess electricity generation toward the property owner’s utility bills. Switching to a "Time of Use" residential electric rate is enabling Two Acre Wood to take even greater advantage of net metering benefits. The solar energy system will generate the most electricity during "peak" hours during the most expensive rate time, but the cohousing community’s power usage is highest during the evening, or "off-peak," hours when electric rates are cheaper. The financial incentives for Two Acre Wood to go solar – along with the environmental ones – have proved to be so compelling, two residents of the cohousing community are now pursuing solar installations for their own units. As more local installation projects like Two Acre Wood are completed, such growing awareness and interest in solar is building momentum toward reaching the city’s 1 megawatt goal. For more information about Solar Sebastopol, call 707-829-1999
or see: www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/ or www.ccenergy.com/news/solarsebastopol.html. Cooperative Community Energy is a solar energy cooperative headquartered in San Rafael, with area locations in Sebastopol, Davis, Oakland, East Bay and Arcata. The Sebastopol office serves members in the entire Sonoma County region. As a co-operative organization for people who want clean energy
for their homes, businesses, and communities, CCEnergy provides
discounts on renewable energy equipment, design and project management
services, and a strong voice in energy policy. CCEnergy recognizes
that our energy future depends on far more than the successes of
individual renewable energy businesses. By nurturing a "cooperative
community" of solar installers, solar designers, energy efficiency
consultants, local government managers, building department officials,
financing institutions, and consumers, CCEnergy is working to grow
a sustainable renewable energy market where all participants thrive.
For more information, see: www.ccenergy.com. Pete Blair or Lori Houston
 |
