Tri-valley Cities of California launch program to encourage solar power
Aim is to clean up Tri-valley Area, Aid Property Owners
By Meera Pal / MediaNews / Dec. 27, 2006
Source: MercuryNews
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16326607.htm
Pleasanton and Livermore, already neighbors, have something else in common: a plan to encourage property owners to step up their use of solar power — and help clean up the region at the same time.The two cities recently signed a joint agreement with Spectrum Energy, an Elk Grove-based energy services company that specializes in designing and installing energy-efficiency measures.
For $40,000, Spectrum Energy will develop and propose a design for a customer-friendly, communitywide system for residents and businesses interested in installing solar energy systems. Each city is contributing $20,000 toward the program.
“Basically, those who are interested in solar energy would be able to come to City Hall and get a kit to convert their home,” said Jacqui Diaz, assistant to the Pleasanton city manager. The program aims to make installing solar equipment easier for property owners. It would help them find out whether their roof is suitable, what rebates are available and which equipment vendors to contact, Livermore Public Works Manager Jacque Delgadillo said. It is unclear how much the service would cost, if anything.
“We hope to create a system that will hold their hand throughout the entire process” of choosing solar energy, Delgadillo said. The Livermore City Council authorized city staff members to sign an agreement with Spectrum Energy last month, while the Pleasanton City Council authorized working with Livermore and sharing the cost at a meeting in October.
The idea for establishing a communitywide solar energy program originated in Livermore last year, after that city’s council heard a presentation by Marin-based Cooperative Community Energy. That cooperative, sponsored by Sustainable Fairfax, helped encourage the establishment of Solar Sebastopol, a communitywide program that makes it easier for property owners to turn to solar power. The group encouraged Livermore to follow the same renewable energy path, Delgadillo said.
In September 2005, after Livermore decided to pursue a solar energy program, city officials contacted their counterparts in Pleasanton, Dublin and San Ramon. Only Pleasanton showed interest; Spectrum hasn’t ruled out adding Dublin and San Ramon to the program, named Tri-Valley Solar, at a later time.
“Being in the valley, we have a unique climate environment and we really want to lower those emissions,” Diaz said. “Whatever we can do to lower those emissions is a small step, but it helps.” Pleasanton has been encouraging green building measures since the council adopted an ordinance in 2002 requiring new civic and commercial projects to utilize energy-efficient features and recycled building materials.
In 2005, the city opened the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department’s new $4.1 million Fire Station No. 4, the city’s first green building. The station was constructed with solar panels that supply 20 percent of the station’s energy, Fire Marshal Eric Carlson said. The station uses electricity for everything except its natural gas heating system. And, when not using the solar energy to support the station’s electricity usage, the energy goes back into Pacific Gas & Electric’s power grid, Carlson said.
“The biggest saving over the long term is that the amount of energy you use is renewable,” he said. Beginning next year, consultants from Spectrum will begin meeting with Livermore and Pleasanton residents and business owners. The company will use the information gathered at those meetings to design a program. Each city council will hear the final presentation in the spring.