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Here Comes the Sun:

Solar Energy for New Homes

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

(Today's Date), 2004

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

As a resident of California, I urge you to actively support Senate Bill 1652, authored by Senator Kevin Murray. This bill would help make the solar energy systems cost effective and help address anticipated energy shortages, while preventing air pollution.

The California Solar Homes bill, SB 1652, 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. This leads to making California's energy grid more stable.

Installing solar power in new homes makes sense economically and environmentally. On the consumer level, homeowners save money on their monthly electric bills. On the large scale, compared to natural gas, solar technologies create seven times more jobs per unit of energy produced. The environment benefits with mass reductions of smog-forming and global warming pollution.

SB 1652 would only apply to a percentage of single-family homes built as part of large commercial developments. 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 your environmental Action Plan includes “the promotion of solar power... to provide incentives for new homes built in California to include solar PVs.” SB 1652 is the vehicle that we need you to visibly support and sign when it reaches your desk.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

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