Small Cities Help Residents and Businesses Go Solar
By Alison Pernell
Cities and counties throughout the state are demonstrating a commitment
to clean, renewable energy generation. Dozens are designing, or
have already installed, photovoltaic systems on municipal facilities.
Local governments can support renewable on-site electricity generation
in another way: by launching a city- or county-sponsored PV program
for residents and business-owners. Two California cities pursuing
this strategy for deployment of renewable energy technologies include
Arcata and Sebastapol.
Arcata
 In
an effort to support energy efficiency and conservation, the Humboldt
Energy Task Force is encouraging Humboldt County residents to go
solar. The Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional entity comprised
of the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka and Rio Bell, Humboldt
County and Humboldt Bay Water Conservation District. To help residents
and businesses determine the costs and benefits of a grid-tied solar
system, the Task Force contracted with the Renewable Energy Development
Institute to develop a solar guidebook. The step-by-step guide helps
potential solar energy owners size a system to meet their needs
and to perform a simple economic analysis of the system.
Kathy Jack, Energy Program Specialist for the City of Arcata, says
that the guidebook is the first of three steps toward implementing
a citywide PV program. Step one includes education and outreach
to residential and commercial electrical consumers. The second step
involves working with local lenders to identify financing for renewable
energy systems. The blossoming PV program also aims to eventually
generate a portion of the electricity needed to power city facilities
as its third step.
To learn more about the solar program, call Kathy Jack at (707)
822-8184. For a copy of the guidebook visit http://www.arcatacityhall.org/energy/energyprogram.html.
Solar Sebastapol
At the behest of the Sebasta-pol City Council, Sonoma State University
completed a study in May 2002 to determine the feasibility of large-scale
solar deployment in Sebastapol.
The Solar Sebastapol Feasibility Study identified the potential
for 1,000 ® 1,500 kW of solar generation capacity on residential
and commercial rooftops. It concluded that city government plays
an important role in facilitating investment in photovoltaic electricity
by reducing the financing and transaction costs for residents and
businesses.
Following the study’s recommendations, Sebastapol’s city
manager, Dave Brennan, instituted the Solar Sebastapol program ®
an initiative that could install up to 1,000 kW of PV systems in
the community. The program will include targeted outreach to schools,
multifamily housing complexes, single-family homeowners, and large
commercial users. Funding for the program and for equipment procurement
will likely be provided by issuing a solar bond ® similar to the
one San Francisco passed in November 2001.
 The
City is currently conducting a survey to determine interest in the
program. The survey presents two options for city-sponsored PV installation.
Under the first scenario, the consumer provides a portion of the
total system cost, including installation. The City assists the
consumer with the procurement process and with low-interest financing.
The PV system belongs to the homeowner, who enjoys decreased utility
bills.
Under the second scenario, the consumer makes no financial contributions,
but the City owns the PV system until it pays for itself (in about
10 years). After that, the homeowner owns the system and enjoys
decreased utility bills.
A recently hired Solar Sebastapol project manager will organize
a public outreach and education campaign and will implement the
initiative. For more information, call City Manger Dave Brennan
at (707) 823-1153. Copies of the Solar Sebastapol Feasibility Study,
are available through the Local Government Commission at (916) 448-1198
x309 or pstoner@lgc.org.
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