AB 811

By “Solar” Sarah Madsen
HelioPower Solar Energy Consultant

Want to go solar and don’t think you can quite afford it, still? Do you need a little more incentive than the

Residential Solar in Suisun installed by HelioPower

state and feds can give you (state rebate and federal tax credit)? How about looking into your local city and county programs? How about checking into Community Action of Napa Valley (CANV) and their “Napa Valley Solar Partnership” program?

The City of Napa, California has been looking for a way to take advantage of AB 811 and be one of the pioneers of citywide residential solar. Their sister county of Sonoma found a fabulous way to incent their green minded residents to go solar. It’s called “Solar Sonoma County.” Residents who go solar can receive a one- time loan for solar system purchase and pay it back over time through their property taxes. Sonoma County’s program kicked off fairly quickly and with great success due in part to the fact that their water district had funds available for the program. Unfortunately Napa City and County have not yet identified a funding pool for their own AB811 program.

In walks Jon Vaden, Director of CANV’s (Community Action Napa Valley) Napa Valley Solar Partnership Program. CANV applied for and received a federal grant to educate the residents of Napa Valley and get as many of them as possible to go solar before the end of 2010. The organization is trying to help all Napa County homeowners go solar, but also has a special emphasis on helping match low-income residents with available loan programs that can provide the upfront cost for solar.

With the grant in place Jon has set out on a trail of solar seminars around the valley called “Making Cents out of Solar” (with me, Solar Sarah, in attendance). He covers how solar works and how residents are connected with PG&E with their “net metering” agreement to buy AND sell energy back to the utility. He also goes over the programs and incentives available, as well as what to look for in a contractor. He explains to homeowners what to expect as it pertains to the process of bidding and installation – basically covering the ins and outs, from paperwork and permits to financing and commissioning your solar system. All of this is done from an educational standpoint with no pressure or steering to any one installation company. Of course I’m always ready, willing and able to schedule a site visit for those eager to get started!

CANV has a prescreened vendor list to assist Napa residents in choosing a qualified installer. Jon has vetted each company carefully, checking their contractor licenses and standing with the Better Business Bureau as well as the requirements of C-10 (Electrician), C-46 (Solar) and NABCEP certifications. The program requires that each company use screened employees and not sub-contractors or temporary workers, ensuring quality workmanship and professionalism from any company participating in the program.

HelioPower, Inc is proud to be a part of CANV’s Napa Valley Solar Partnership and I am privileged to attend every seminar and meeting. I’m Solar Sarah Madsen of the Napa Valley and you can find me at the weekly seminar spot, wherever that may be (find event listings on CANV’s website). I’m grateful to Jon Vaden for including us and believing in my commitment to service the Napa Valley and beyond. Everyone has worked together to create a successful program and it won’t work overnight, but your solar system doesn’t work overnight either  

Now let’s get going GREEN and GO SOLAR with SOLAR SARAH in the NAPA VALLEY!!

You can reach Sarah Madsen via email at solarsarah@heliopower.com.

Palm Desert solar installation by HelioPower

The City of Palm Desert has announced the upcoming release of $6 million in new funding for its popular Energy Independence Program. Half of the new funds will be dedicated to loans for energy efficiency improvements with the other half reserved for loans for solar projects. The funding will be available to Palm Desert property owners who submit a completed loan application beginning Monday, February 8. 

The City’s Office of Energy Management, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, will accept applications from Palm Desert property owners on a first-come, first-served basis. Property owners can apply in person by appointment only. Applications submitted by contractors on behalf of property owners will be accepted by appointment with a limit of one application per company each day.

Applications will be reviewed by Office of Energy Management staff, with written notification of approval provided to customers when their application is officially complete. Staff will schedule appointments with customers whose applications are complete to review and discuss the loan documents and processing. If an application is deemed incomplete, notification will be sent to the property owner that they must resubmit. Resubmissions will be accepted while funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since its creation by the Palm Desert City Council in August 2008, the Energy Independence Program has helped nearly 190 Palm Desert residents and businesses get more than $5 million in loans for solar panels, high efficiency air conditioning and heating systems, and other permanent energy efficiency improvements.

The program makes these energy saving measures more affordable by allowing the City to loan money to residents and businesses at competitive interest rates without the credit checks or appraisals associated with home equity and other types of personal loans. Borrowers can repay the loans over time as part of their property taxes. If the property is sold, the improvements and the outstanding loan balance can be transferred to the new owner.

The Energy Independence Program’s goal is to stimulate investment in energy efficiency and conservation, thereby decreasing energy demand, boosting power generation from renewable sources, and reducing energy costs. When combined with the City’s Set to Save program, it is part of a strategy to reduce energy consumption and demand in Palm Desert by 30 percent over five years.
 
Applications are available at the Office of Energy Management and online at  http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/Index.aspx?page=484. To schedule an appointment and for more information, please call the Palm Desert Office of Energy Management at 760-837-0287.

For more than 18 months now, California cities and counties have been empowered to offer residents and

Riverside commercial solar installation for Monster Media assisted by city rebate program, installed by HelioPower

 businesses a cost-effective way to install solar panels and other energy-saving measures, yet so far only two cities in the Inland Empire have taken advantage of it – Palm Desert and Yucaipa.

If that’s because too few people understand the scope and power granted them by the signing of Assembly Bill 811, they will now have the opportunity to unravel the mysteries of this program and its potential for their city.  On Feb. 9, UC Riverside will host the AB-811 Symposium, featuring guest speakers from Inland Empire city and county governments, public utilities, solar and electrical contractors.

“The city of Riverside is committed to becoming a Clean and Green city,” said Mayor Ron Loveridge, an early advocate of AB-811 and the opening speaker at the symposium. “Our goal is to increase our renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, hydro, wind and solar.”

HelioPower's Scott Gordon, Vice President of Residential Sales will join the roster of industry experts. HelioPower has installed many projects in the Palm Desert and Inland Empire areas, including the design and installation of the first project under the Riverside Municipal commercial solar rebate program and currently works with other group buying programs. "The combination of AB811 and private enterprise promises to make the dream of solar possible for a much broader number of California property owners," said Gordon.

The AB-811 Symposium will be held at the UC Riverside’s Highlander Union Building from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The event cost of $35 includes lunch and parking.  Although the event is open the public, it’s specifically aimed at county supervisors, mayors and city council members, department heads, staff and private sector partners.

The major sponsor of  the symposium is Southern California Gas Co.; additional sponsors are the Inland Empire Labor Management Cooperation Committee, Viewpoint Green, and the Inland Empire chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

“AB-811 is a fantastic tool,” said Marvin Hudson of Viewpoint Green, a division of Viewpoint Financial in Redlands. “It aids local governments in the fight for economic development by putting people to work and circulating dollars.”

AB-811 grants California communities the ability to allow certain loans to residents, be repaid through assessments that appear on their property tax bills.

This idea, making solar more affordable, could result in cleaner energy, plus new jobs for solar installers.
The first step toward taking advantage of AB-811 is for a city or county to create an “contractual assessment district” within its borders. The symposium will answer such questions as: How do you create your own contractual assessment district? What components to include in your program? How to fund your program? How might you administer your program?

For more information or to register for AB-811 Symposium, contact the Inland Empire Labor Management Cooperation Committee  at (909) 307-3400.  USGBC members may attend at the discount price of $25.

The intent of the Legislature is that AB 811 should be used to finance the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources or energy efficiency improvements that are permanently fixed to residential, commercial, industrial, or other real property.

AB 811 authorizes a property owner, upon written consent of an authorized city official, to purchase directly the related equipment and materials for the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources or energy efficiency improvements and to contract directly for the installation of those sources or improvements. 

Funding options include using the general fund, issuing municipal bonds, partnering with a utility to get financing or setting up private financing.  

Palm Desert and Berkeley led the legislative charge to put AB 811 in place, and have now enabled hundreds of properties to be outfitted with energy efficiency and renewable energy systems including solar. The “Berkeley First” program was launched Nov. 07. Their pilot program is fully subscribed at $1.5 million.  The Palm Desert Energy Independence program is now in its third round of financing, having installed $7.5 million in energy efficiency and solar photovoltaic systems in their town.  

The Sonoma County Energy Independence program has completed a feasibility study and is planning on offering a $40 million program, which will also include water conservation systems.

San Diego is working on a “Solar Roof Program.” The pilot project will focus on 150 to 300 homes, and 1 technology – solar photovoltaic. Success for the pilot is deemed to be completing the financing cycle, collecting 150-200 loan packages, and aggregating those smaller loans into larger packages that can be sold off on the municipal bond market. Encinitas, Napa and Redlands are all in the exploration phase of AB 811 programs.

Cities like Anaheim and Santa Monica have solar supportive programs already in place.  Santa Monica promotes solar adoption through its Solar Santa Monica program.  Solar installation firms bid for program, and guarantee “group” pricing.  HelioPower is a installer for this program.   

All across California residents and property owners are working with their elected officials to find new and innovative ways to increase the use of sun to power our electricity needs. 

For further information and a review of the legislation, click here. Support AB 811 adoption in your town! 

HelioPower is pleased participating in EcoBuild San Diego 2009 as a Light Green Sponsor at this second annual event.

From the foundation, to the finishing touches this expo features everything you need to know about sustainable building! EcoBuild San Diego offers education and outreach for fire survivors and homeowners looking to rebuild or remodel more sustainably.

On hand will be HelioPower’s New Home Solar Program (NHSP) expert, Tyler Michael, along with Charles Curley of the sales team.

The event will be at the California Center for Sustainable Energy , 8690 Balboa Avenue, Suite #100 San Diego, CA 92123 this Saturday, April 4 from 9am to 5pm.

Tyler has developed a specialty working to help homeowners take advantage of this program. Working in the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) utility territory, Tyler was recently quoted in the utility’s NSHP Program Fact Sheet.

Tyler works with homeowners and builders to meet the criteria of NSHP. Tyler has also worked with many “fire survivors” in the San Diego area to help them navigate the program.

“This program requires extensive cooperation between the architect, the contractor, the homeowner, and Heliopower to qualify them for the rebate. NSHP has a much higher rebate allowance per watt than the normal CSI program,” said Tyler.

It is very important to plan the solar power system at the beginning of home design so that all the requirements can be met for this program.

Advance planning is critical to qualify without adding more cost in the future. Upfront planning results in an energy efficient home in the future, which saves money every month on energy bills. “If you wait and install the solar power as a retrofit, you lose up to $1.00/watt in rebate. For an average home that would be about $5000,” said Tyler.

Already an innovator in its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, the city of Palm Desert is one step closer to realizing its goal of reducing citywide energy consumption by 30 percent before 2012. Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed Assembly Bill 811 into law as an “urgency measure,” for the first time allowing city and county governments throughout California to provide loans to property owners planning home or business improvements that will reduce energy consumption. The bill, termed locally the Energy Independence Program, was written and lobbied for by Palm Desert’s civic leaders.

Palm Desert’s City Council is has passed a program to put the bill into effect locally as quickly and simply as possible, and has already heard from more than 275 residents who are interested in participating.  The Council approved the Energy Independence Program at its regular meeting on August 28. The city plans to provide loans for as little as $5,000, with no upper limit, for improvements such as efficient air-conditioning, dual-pane windows, pool pumps, solar panels, or white roofs—anything that will reduce electricity consumption and is considered a permanent fixture. The city will provide low-interest loans requiring no credit checks or other qualifications other than the title to improved property. The loans will be paid back as part of the property tax bill—meaning if the home or business is sold, the loan stays with the property.

“Three years ago, we set a lofty goal of reducing our energy use by 30 percent, and now we have the means to accomplish it,” said Councilman Jim Ferguson, who spearheaded the passage of the Energy Independence Program. “During the summer months, when temperatures regularly reach over 100 degrees, Palm Desert residents can pay over $1000 a month for electricity. This program will empower them to explore renewable energy sources and make meaningful changes for the environment as well as their own finances.” 

The city has enlisted the expertise of EcoMotion, a consulting company that also advises cities such as Anaheim and Santa Monica on their environmental initiatives. Under the leadership of president Ted Flanigan, EcoMotion will coordinate and help facilitate the loan program. Flanigan will also work to document Palm Desert’s carbon footprint and suggest further improvements to the city’s already aggressive energy- and emissions-reduction programs.

For more information please see, http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/.