What's New
Progress!
After celebrating one of the state’s biggest
environmental victories with the passage and signing of Environment
California-backed SB 1, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, in 2006, we are now
celebrating the state’s progress in meeting this internationally significant new
solar program. In 2007, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative’s first full year in
operation, California saw more interest in solar power among California consumers
than in all previous years in which the state has had a solar rebate program,
1996-2006, combined. We went from having
200 MW of installed solar power throughout the state at the end of 2006, to
potentially adding more than this amount in 2007 alone.
New Legislation to
Promote Solar Power!
Environment California
is sponsoring another important solar power bill in the California State
Legislature. This bill, AB 1920 (Huffman), would remove unnecessary barriers to
consumers interested in going solar by allowing consumers to install whatever
sized solar system they want and by requiring utilities to purchase surplus
power from the consumer at the end of each year. For more information on AB
1920, click here.
Making Solar Power Mainstream: Our Million Solar Roofs Vision
California
has some of the greatest potential in the world to benefit from solar power due
to high levels of sunlight. We also have some of the greatest need. By reducing
our dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, clean renewable energy such
as solar power can protect our environment while diversifying our energy
resources and helping to lower prices.
Solar power can also reduce strain on the electric grid by generating electricity
where it is used and hedging against rate spikes by generating electricity when
demand is the highest, on hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are
running. More.
