Solar Sebastopol Fair & Celebration Kicks Off New Solar Program
A unique solar energy program for the City
of Sebastopol is being officially launched by San Rafael-based
Cooperative
Community Energy (CCEnergy) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 with
a day-long event featuring inspirational speakers, live music, educational
booths, panel discussions and fun activities for kids and teens.
The Solar Sebastopol Fair & Celebration is free to the public
and will be held at the Sebastopol Community Center, 11 a.m. to
5 p.m. The event is designed to educate attendees about Sebastopol’s
two-year campaign to install one megawatt (MW) of solar photovoltaics
to the rooftops of local government buildings, businesses and residences.
The City of Sebastopol has entered into an agreement with CCEnergy
to promote, implement, and manage the Solar Sebastopol program by
conducting ongoing outreach and education activities, arranging
multiple financing options, cultivating a network of qualified local
solar designers and installer/contractors, and facilitating bulk
purchasing of solar equipment at discount prices.
The Solar Sebastopol program is the culmination of an analysis
project conducted by Sonoma State University Energy Management Design
Program students in 2001 to assess the City’s overall solar
energy potential. The Sebastopol City Council endorsed the study’s
conclusions and sought a consulting partnership to implement a citywide
solar energy program.
“We hope that Sebastopol serves as a model for other communities
looking to take their energy futures into their own hands,”
said Dan Pellegrini, president and chief executive officer of CCEnergy,
a co-op specifically created two years ago to make it easier for
California consumers to tap the energy of the sun and to contribute
toward creating a mature solar energy market where all stakeholders
benefit: manufacturers, installer/contractors, consumers, municipalities
and, yes, even utilities.
CCEnergy aggregates buying power to residential, commercial, and
municipal members who want to generate clean safe energy at reasonable
prices. For member buyers, CCEnergy makes the purchase of renewable
energy easy, affordable, and rewarding. For member contractors,
CCEnergy delivers the benefits of professional marketing and project
management services, allowing them to concentrate on their core
expertise in design and installation services.
“I am excited to take part in this community celebration,”
said Sam Spooner, Sebastopol City Councilman. “This is a great
opportunity for local citizens to learn more about solar energy.
Sebastopol can demonstrate how local governments can play a key
role in moving this nation toward a more sane and sustainable energy
future.”
Spooner will give a pep talk and sit on a panel describing efforts
at the local, state and federal government levels to promote solar
energy among consumers and stimulate the overall renewable energy
market. Assemblymember Pat Wiggins (D-7th District) and Tom Roth,
representing Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, will also sit on the panel.
Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly has also been invited to participate.
Other speakers include:
- David Hochschild, executive director of votesolar.org,
the organization that sponsored a San Francisco bond measure creating
the largest local government solar program in the world.
- Ed Smeloff, from the San
Francisco Public Utilities Commission, who manages the city’s
solar program and will provide status reports on San Francisco’s
and other local government efforts to implement successful solar
energy programs.
- Paul Fenn, executive director of Local
Power and architect of California’s new “community
aggregation” law that allows local governments to purchase
power on behalf of constituents, will highlight how local governments
can build markets for renewable energy sources such as solar.
Musical entertainment will include performances by Space Debris,
a band performing songs about clean power and the last energy crisis,
and local folk musicians such as David Field.
Local solar installers and contractors will have booths and educational
materials detailing the nuts and bolts of photovoltaic solar system
installations. Another panel discussion will feature Sebastopol
residents and businesses that have already installed their own solar
systems. They will explain why they love the mini-power plants located
on their rooftops and how they overcame their resistance to solar
energy.
Fun activities for children and teens are also part of the program.
The goal of the Solar Sebastopol Fair & Celebration is to sign
up local residents and business owners to participate in this one-of-a-kind
partnership between CCEnergy and the City of Sebastopol, and to
educate the general public and other civic leaders about the great
benefits of solar photovoltaics.
Early event sponsors include solar manufacturers Evergreen Solar
and Kyocera Solar, along with solar service providers Solar Works
(of Sebastopol) and Sun Power & Geothermal Energy.
For more information, visit the City
of Sebastopol web site (http://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/) or
call Peter Asmus (415) 868-9866.
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