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By Bernadette Del Chiaro
Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California
Solar power can make a difference in keeping our lights on without smog or global warming pollution.
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) is forecasting a potential electricity shortage this afternoon of 290 megawatts (MW) due to heavy use of air conditioners throughout the state. This shortfall – the difference between the amount of peak electricity resources the state has on hand and the predicted demand - is roughly the equivalent to the amount of solar power California has installed throughout the state. This narrow but critical gap between supply and demand highlights how even a relative small amount of solar power can play a huge role in keeping the lights, and doing so without air pollution.
Looking ahead, meeting California’s million solar roofs goal, adding 3,000 MW of solar power over the next ten years, will eclipse today’s predicted shortfall ten times over. The additional capacity to be installed on homes and businesses throughout the state is roughly the same as adding 50 peaking power plants, without the public health, environmental and economic costs that come from burning fossil fuels.
The Million Solar Roofs Initiative, created last year with the passage of SB 1 (Murray), has made $3.2 billion available to consumers who purchase a solar power system. The typical solar home costs around $25,000 pre-rebates. With a rebate, the cost is cut in half and can pay for itself within 8-10 years, or immediately if financed through a low-interest loan. So far, in the first six months of the program, California has installed 25 MW of solar power with only six months worth of progress to report.
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Since joining Environment California in 2002, Ms. Del Chiaro has been the lead advocate of the Million Solar Roofs campaign. She also helped lead the Clean Energy L.A campaign, a successful coalition effort to establish a 20% by 2017 renewable energy standard at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Note: Articles are posted for the purpose of generating ideas and honest debate on how San Francisco can live up to its full promise and potential. Posting of an article does not imply an endorsement by the author of Gavin Newsom for Mayor, nor an endorsement by Gavin Newsom for Mayor of the positions set forth in the article.
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August 31st, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I had solar panels installed on my home (Inner Mission) in 2001. I strongly believe that City should take an aggressive role in promoting solar installations in SF. In particular, I believe we should take some (or all) of the following steps:
1. City planning code Article 1.2, Section 149 mandates that 25,000 square foot office projects must allocate 1% of the budget for public art. I propose that this be amended to say one-half percent for art and the other half percent for solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy installation. In the absence of renewable energy solutions, the 1/2% cost would be charged as a non-compliance fee and paid into the city solar fund.
2. All new residential construction should have solar or other renewable energy review and installation requirements as part of the permit process. If a new building is solar eligible - that is, if it is in a “solar zone” (see notes below) it must have solar panels installed or pay a fine equal to the cost of installing solar, e.g., $20,000. Fines would go to the city solar fund.
3. All new commercial construction must install grid connected solar or wind generation systems. Look at any Costco, Home Depot, or other commercial building and visualize the acres of solar panels that could generate the electricity needed to power the appliances being sold. We have a new deYoung museum, the Moscone Center expansion, the new Four Seasons hotel - all represent opportunities to generate solar power at little or no cost to the taxpayers
4. Major remodel and renovation construction projects e.g. residential projects with cost estimates exceeding $1,000,000 and business projects with cost estimates exceeding $5,000,000 should be required to incorporate renewable energy components.
5. Any home sold after Jan 1, 2010 that is in a “solar zone” and does not have solar should be charged a solar assessment on their property taxes every year until solar is installed. The solar assessments would go into the “city solar fund”. (O.K. I know this won’t fly, but it could be a long term stretch goal who would have thought that smoking could be legislated?)
NOTES:
A “solar zone” would be any property lot that has continuous period of not less than x hours in the summer and y hours in the winter when the roof is not blocked by trees, buildings, hills, etc. The designation could be added to property zoning codes e.g., RH-3 could be RH-3S.
The “city solar fund” would need initial seed money but should be designed to become self-funding. Income to the fund would come from builders/owners who elect to pay fees/fines instead of incorporating solar or wind power to new construction and from the 1/2 of the 1% Article 1.2, Sec.149 monies collected. In the future, the amount of tax breaks, loan amounts, or penalties can be adjusted so that the “solar fund” neither loses money nor makes a profit.