News for June 25, 2002

Davis suggests solar tax credit be halted to balance budget!! Call, Fax or email the Governor Today (6/25)!

Schott Introduces SunRoof RS

Building the Solar Market between Energy Crisis' in California

PV in power networks: few technical barriers

Silicon meltdown?

CalSolar - Payments stop before work does [Sacramento]

A CSUS professor's idea for the Third World: Let the sun do the cooking.

Cal Poly Pomona team hopes its boat will shine in a solar-powered race.

Solar Factory Planned for Los Angeles

IN BRIEF

Legislative Update -

AB 58 (Keeley) Net Metering· Requires that the complete processing of net metering contracts by utilities or electric service providers within 30 business days or less.· The utilities would be required to make net metering available until the capacity of net metered systems exceeds 1 percent of the utility's aggregate peak demand.· For systems of 10 kilowatts to 1 MW, the customers would be required to use "time-of-use meters." The costs and credits shall be shown on a monthly basis. · For customers that have systems of 10 kW to 1 MW, at the end of the 12th month of the net metering contract, if the customer generates more than what is sold to them by the utility, the utility would have to pay the customer the balance in cash.· Removes the sunset date for the 1 MW cap on net metering. · The PUC is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2007 that assesses the costs and benefits of net metering. This report would be prepared by a third party. Senate Energy Committee Hearing scheduled for June 25th.

SB 530 (and SB 1524) Sher - Renewable Investment Plan · Allows the Energy Commission to continue the activities of its Research and Development and Renewables programs until January 1, 2007. The Energy Commission would be allowed to use public goods funds collected from 2002 through 2006.· Incorporates recommendations of the PIER and Renewables Program Investment Plans. Assembly Utilities Committee hearing on June 24. [link to SB 1524]

SB 1534 (Bowen) Solar Energy Systems - This bill brings up to date existing laws to protect homeowners who want to install solar systems by prohibiting homeowner associations or subdivision developers from banning their use through CC&Rs. This bill updates standards to meet the most current standards for safety and performance. This bill also requires these solar energy systems to comply with applicable rules mandated by the PUC regarding safety and reliability.

SB 1519 (Bowen) DWR Power -This bill requires the PUC to establish a mechanism by which customers of an electrical corporation for whom direct access has been suspended, to purchase renewable power. The mechanism includes a provision for the customer to reimburse DWR for specified costs related to the department’s power purchasing program.

California Energy Agencies come together - The California Energy Commission, California Power Authority, and California Public Utilities Commission members, on June 7th in San Francisco, jointly participated in a discussion of energy efficiency, distributed generation and demand management programs available to Californians in 2002. read more here

Atlantis SunSlates voted #1 'Cool Product' at Pacific Coast Builders Conference - San Francisco - New this year, instead of us determing which products are cutting edge, we asked the attendees, to tell us which of our exhibitor's products are cool. After all, we don't build homes - we only plan tradeshows! the results. PCBC will be held June 26-28 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Los Angeles Community Colleges Go Solar - On Wednesday June 19, 2002, the Board of Trustees for the Los Angles Community College District (LACCD), the largest network of community colleges in the U.S., unanimously voted in favor of strong renewable energy standards for the 40-50 new buildings that will be constructed with proposition A funding. All of the new buildings will use at least 15-25% clean renewable energy and a minimum of 10% of the energy will be generated on-site with solar photovoltaic panels. This is the first time in U.S. history that a higher education institution has taken such promising steps to help stop global warming. This past spring, the Board approved the highest green building standard ever for a project of this magnitude, this victory demonstrates that the LACCD is committed to making these standards a reality. [source: GreenPeace]