Other Solar Programs

     When it launched in January 2007, the CSI Program built upon nearly 10 years of state support for solar, including other incentive programs . . . The CSI Program is one part of the broader solar effort in California, branded collectively as the Go Solar, California! campaign. In authorizing a total expenditure of $3.3 billion, the Legislature indentified two additional programs to support the goal of installing 3,000 MW of solar capacity statewide . . . One [program] is the California Energy Commission's New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) that offers solar incentives to new homes in large IOU territories and leverages the Energy Commission's oversight of building codes and standards. The other is a set of solar programs offered through publicly-owned utilities (POUs) that are not regulated by the CPUC. The statewide solar effort is promoted collectively on the Go Solar, California website, www.GoSolarCalifornia.ca.gov, a one-stop web portal.

Solar-powered stages were in use in Long Beach in this year's Summer and Music (SAM) series, such as this one at Funk Fest. The series, continuing through the end of August, was advertised as "Music for the People. Powered by the Sun."

FEDERAL SOLAR/RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES

     The current level of the federal investment tax credit (ITC) available for residential purchases of renewable energy systems (including solar) is 30%. This credit is applicable toward the total cost of a system such as a PV system (including installation), and it is applied after other rebate/incentives have been taken. The ITC was capped at a maximum of $2000 for solar electric systems "placed in service on or before December 31, 2008; as of 2009 there has been no maximum limit. (n11) Also, one important change in the personal ITC took effect with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, February 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 115). "To help eliminate the challenges associated with tax credit financing, [the Act] offers ITC-eligible project developers the option of receiving a cash grant instead of the credit. The cash grant offers immediate funding for renewable energy projects placed in service before 2011 (i.e. before the end of this year) and is intended to address the lack of readily available project financing during the recession." (n12)

NET ENERGY METERING

     A recent series of radio ads has a couple talking about their excitement as they stood and watched their electric meter run backward after installing their rooftop PV system. The commercials refer to the bi-directional electric meters which can be installed along with a PV system. The meters measure electricity flowing both into the home (from the grid) and out of the home (as surplus electricity generated from the solar system in excess of what is being used in the home or business).

     "When a solar generating system produces more electricity than [what is used] . . . the 'excess' electricity automatically passes through the meter and onto the utility grid. When this occurs, the meter runs backward and Net Energy Metering (NEM) generates a bill credit for the full retail value of the electricity [the] system is producing at the time . . . Over a 12-month period customers on Net Energy Metering will pay for the net amount of electricity used from their utility over and above the amount of electricity their solar system generates." (n13) NEM is available to all solar customers, and most customers participate. (n14) (Restrictions are in effect as to the size of systems allowed to be installed so that PV system users can not install large solar electric generating systems simply for the purpose of generating electricity to be sent back to the grid.)

DOES INVESTING IN A SOLAR PV SYSTEM MAKE SENSE FOR YOU?

     The answer to that question can only be determined on a case-by-case basis. The costs of a PV system depend on a number of tangible variables including the size of a system (generally 3 - 5 kilowatts for a residential system), the type of equipment selected, current local, state and federal incentives for the area in which a residence or business is located, the local cost of electricity and financing methods used. Most estimates for up-front costs of a 3 - 5 kilowatt residential PV system seen in the course of reviewing materials for the essays were in the $18,000 - $25,000 range after all incentives/rebates had been applied (with one exception, to be discussed below). Other more intangible factors influencing the choice of installing a PV system may include a person's philosophies and beliefs related to the environment.

     Those wishing to obtain a personalized rough estimate of what a PV system might cost can visit a site called the Clean Power Estimator. The Clean Power Estimator is an online software program that provides California residents and commercial electric customers with a personalized estimate of costs and benefits of investing in PV solar electric generating systems. The Estimator can be found at www.cec.cleanpowerestimator.com/cec.htm. A more exact estimate can be obtained by contacting a solar installer. Listings of local solar installation companies/contractors and additional solar tools/calculators can be found at www.findsolar.com.

     The one exception found in reviewing estimates for system costs came from community solar purchasing collectives organized by a San Francisco-based company called One Block Off the Grid, or 1Bog. The company, "established in 2008, has taken the group purchasing concept to the next level by organizing collective buying campaigns in numerous cities across the country . . . When there is a critical mass of interest [in a community] - usually about 100 people - 1Bog issues a request for proposal to local PV system installers and formally launches a campaign." (n15) The company "makes its money by charging the winning bidder [for the collective installations] a fee." (n16)

     The benefits of the 1Bog campaigns are significant reductions in the cost of PV system purchases and installation for campaign participants. Drawbacks are no choice in the installer of type of system installed. However, all details of the campaings and selected PV systems are clearly posted on the 1Bog website, www.1bog.org. 1Bog campaigns and home evaluations are currently open in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and the Inland Empire. Sign-ups for Orange County and the Inland Empire close on September 14 and sign-ups for Los Angeles close on September 30.

     Moving on from purchasing decisions to implementation, this second part of the two-part "Here Comes the Sun" series will conclude with a few examples of PV-based products and services, CSI program implementation measures and solar electric power generation in the Orange County, Los Angeles County and Inland Empire areas covered on the site.

LOCAL EXAMPLES OF USES OF SOLAR POWER, BIG AND SMALL

Above left: Fountains in front of Brotman Hall at California State University Long Beach. Above right: Solar array on top of Brotman Hall (fountains can be see near the top of the picture). Photograph on right courtesy of Go Solar California Photo Gallery, www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov.

     Consider the photographs above. Hundreds, if not thousands, of students and others pass by the fountains at Brotman Hall on the California State University Long Beach campus each day. Few, however, may realize their proximity to electricity generated from solar power, because the building's rooftop solar panels are not visible (for the most part) from the ground. Likewise, a person sitting in the evening at any one of a number of covered bus shelters in the city of El Monte may not realize that the light in the shelter is shining thanks to power generated from the solar panel sitting atop the structure.

     Unlike oil wells, gasoline pumps or wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) systems are sometimes installed in places (such as rooftops) where they are not easily seen. While it has become commonplace to find solar cells generating power for everything from calculators to roadside traffic signs and emergency call boxes, other newer uses of solar power may be less obvious. A few examples of local uses of solar power - both small-scale and large-scale - are included below. The list is not intended to be a comprehensive one for Orange and Los Angeles Counties and the Inland Empire but rather an illustrative one; cities or organizations using solar power are invited to send information on their uses of the technology to solar@dorothyswebsite.org. An addendum to Part II of the essay will be included next month if any additional information is received. (Examples listed here do not constitute an endorsement of any product or service and are included for information purposes only.)

     Solar-Powered Trash Cans and Parking Pay Stations. Both the cities of Riverside and Long Beach have installed solar-powered trash cans/trash compactor units this year. Units in Riverside "squeeze the trash inside the bin which saves space and reduces trash collection trips to just once a week. This saves the city an average of 1,665 gallons of fuel each year and about 575 labor hours . . . The containers compact up to 200 gallons of trash into just 40 - 60 pounds. And, when there is no sun, the units have a battery reserve designed to last two to three weeks without charging." (n17) The city installed the first containers in the Riverwalk area in May, with about 25 units to be installed city-wide. Similar units were put in place in three locations in Long Beach in July. The locations include "the 200 block of Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach, Second Street/Argonne Avenue in Belmont Shore, and Atlantic Avenue/Carson Street in Bixby Knolls." In these units, "when the container is full . . . the green light on the compactor turns from green to yellow and a signal is then transmitted wirelessly, letting the collectors know the unit is full and ready to be picked up." (n18)

Both cities, as well as cities like Huntington Beach, have also begun to deploy solar-powered parking pay stations on city streets and in city-owned parking lots. Units in Huntington Beach and Riverside are pictured here.

Left, solar-powered parking pay station in downtown Riverside near the Riverside Art Museum, and right, solar-powered parking pay station at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach.

     Solar Power in Municipal Buildings. The city of Brea is soon to become "the largest municipal producer of solar power in Orange County, . . . [with] up to 1.8 megawatts of . . . solar power to be produced from panels installed at the Civic and Cultural Center, the Brea Community Center and at the maintenance yard." (n19) Work is scheduled to begin this month on the installation of solar arrays "over the atrium plaza area at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center, as well as over the parking stalls at the Brea Community Center, . . . [both] providing daytime shade for more comfort and better overnight lighting for more safety." (n20) Over the first five full years of implentation of the project (which also includes other equipment and facility upgrades) savings of $1.4 million are projected. (n21)

     The city of Costa Mesa also has started using solar power in some of its municipal buildings. This year "over 1,500 solar modules [were installed] on roofs in the Downtown Recreation Center (DRC) and the Neighborhood Community Center (NCC) . . . The 106 kilowatt system is expected to produce 65 percent of the NCC's electrical use." In addition, the installation provided hands-on training for 20 students enrolled in Orange Coast College's photovoltaics course. (n22)

     Comprehensive Municipal Solar Service. The city of Santa Monica has a municipal goal of becoming energy independent by the year 2020. "Solar Santa Monica" is part of this community-wide effort. Solar Santa Monica is a comprehensive hands-on service offered by the city to its residents and businesses to help them "save energy by making homes and businesses more efficient and produce energy by installing solar panels on individual buildings and community sites throughout the city." (n23) From energy assessments to discounts from preferred providers of solar electric and solar thermal systems, the office's full-time team of energy professionals can assist in all aspects of energy decision-making. Find out more about Solar Santa Monica by calling (310) 458-4992 or visiting www.solarsantamonica.com.

     Solar Power in New Residential Construction. Not all homes in all areas are suited for generating electricity from solar panels, and not all roofs are suitable for supporting a solar array. The Go Solar California consumer guide even suggests that it is better to wait to install a new roof before placing panels on a roof more than seven years old. (n24) As outlined in the CSI section above, incentives now exist for incorporating solar energy in the design of new homes and/or residential developments. An example of one new residential development in which solar panels have been included on all the homes is Comstock Homes' Villages at Heritage Springs in Santa Fe Springs. The master-planned community includes houses and townhomes ranging from 1,390 to 2,166 square feet which are equipped with energy-saving features and state-of-the-art Sun Power Solar electric systems. According to company materials, the rooftop Sun Tiles (which are almost indistinguishable from regular roof tiles except for variation in color, see picture below) are the highest efficiency solar cells on the market. (n25) You can read more about the homes at www.villagesatsantafesprings.com, and you can learn more about the solar systems by visiting the site www.sunpowersolarhome.com.

Solar PV "tiles" on the "Villages" homes are nearly indistiguishable from the regular rooftop tiles except for the color variation.

     SASH AND Grid Alternatives. As mentioned earlier, one component of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) is the Single Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program. The SASH program is managed by GRID Alternatives. GRID Alternatives is "a non-profit organization founded in 2001 that provides solar services and training in low-income communities. (n26) Under the SASH guidelines, eligible households receive a one-time payment . . . to help reduce the cost of installation. The SASH program offers fully-subsidized (free) systems to single family households classified as "extremely low income," and partially subsidized systems to households that are classified as "low income."

     One local city which has partnered with GRID Alternatives is Hawaiian Gardens. (n27) The city hopes to provide qualifying applicants with grants for low-income homeowners. To learn more about GRID Alternatives, visit www.gridalternatives.org.

     Utility-Scale Solar Thermal Power Plants. Southern California's largest solar power generating facilities are all located in the Mojave Desert area of San Bernardino County in Daggett, Kramer Junction and Harper Dry Lake. The nine solar electric generating stations, known as SEGS I - IX, are all parabolic trough-type facilities (see the July 2010 essay for an explanation of the technology) with a combined electric generating capacity of more than 350 megawatts. They became operational in the years between 1985 - 1990. Information on each of the SEGS units is available at www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces. According to information from the California Energy Commission available at www.energy.ca.gov/siting/solar, there are currently seven utility-scale projects under review in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, with one additional project already approved for Victorville. If the other seven are approved, they will have a combined generating capacity of close to 3400 MW. The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also has received right-of-way requests for more than 25 other solar thermal plants to be developed on federal BLM land. (n28) You can find a pdf map file of proposed large solar facilities on BLM land by clicking the link on the solar siting page listed above.

SUN SPOTS?

     Although reality is much more complex, two authors have suggested that in theory the 4,000 billion kWh (4 terawatt hours) of electric power used in the United States each year could be produced by a PV installation 100 miles long by 100 miles wide (half the area of the Nevada nuclear test site) (n29) or in an area measuring about 18,000 square miles (about the size of the box in the map of Arizona to the left) (n30). If you'd like to learn more about the realities of solar energy and its use in the United States, follow trends in the solar energy industry, or track the progress of solar electric power generation in California, you can visit the following websites:

• Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA): www.solarelectricpower.org

• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): www.seia.org

• American Solar Energy Society (ASES): www.ases.org

• California Solar Statistics: www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov