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Here Comes the Sun:
Solar Energy for New Homes
In response to the recent energy crisis, California has the opportunity to end its over-dependence on non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. The California Solar Homes bill, Senate Bill 1652 (Murray), would accelerate the state’s switch to solar energy by establishing a minimum requirement of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that new home developers must install.
Residential homes make up 87 percent of California's electric customer base and represent the largest area of growth—more than 125,000 new homes are built each year in California. Rather than relying on energy from more and more fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, new homes should have solar power as a standard feature—just like double-paned windows and insulation.
SB 1652 would require that the solar systems be at least 2 kilowatts (KW) in size to meet around half of a home's energy needs. Installing solar power in new homes makes sense economically and environmentally:
- For every 1,000 KW of solar installed, more than 300 pounds of smog-forming pollution (NOx) is reduced annually – the equivalent to removing 17 cars from the road each year.
- Additionally, more than 870,000 pounds of global warming pollution (CO2) is reduced annually for every 1,000 KW of solar – the equivalent of removing more than 70 cars from the road each year.
- Homeowners save money on their monthly electric bills.
- California's energy grid would become more stable.
- Building a solar home from the beginning, as opposed to retrofitting, reduces the cost by 25-33%.
- Compared to natural gas, solar technologies create seven times more jobs per unit of energy produced.
SB 1652 would only apply to a percentage of single-family homes built as part of large commercial developments. It would not apply to self or custom-built homes, nor would it apply to homes built in California's fog and mountain regions. Moreover, the bill would require a minimum percentage of 15% by January 2006, gradually increasing until 55% of new homes are built with solar power in 2010. At this rate, California would have approximately 40-50 megawatts (40,000-50,000 KW) of new solar power, forestalling the need to build a new power plant each year. It would also double California's current solar energy market.
Part of Governor Schwarzenegger’s environmental platform includes “the promotion of solar power in cooperation with developers, the Building Industry Association, labor, community organizations, and bi-partisan state legislators to provide incentives for new homes built in California to include solar PVs.” SB 1652 is the vehicle; now we need to make sure legislators are on board.
What You Can Do
SB 1652 will help make the solar energy systems cost effective and help address anticipated energy shortages while preventing air pollution. The bill has passed through the Senate and is now being heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Please contact your Assembly Member and encourage him or her to support SB 1652 in committee and on the Assembly floor. Also, ask the Governor to support the bill by encouraging fellow Republicans to vote for it and by signing the bill when it reaches his desk.
See our sample letters and send one to your Assembly Member and one to the Governor!
Your Assembly Member
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 558-3160
To find your Assembly Member's contact information, see the Assembly web site and click on "Find My District."
