Sebastopol, Calif., June 14, 2004 – Steven Strong, a world-renowned expert on solar design, is coming to speak at the Solar Sebastopol Fair this Saturday, June 19. Strong both launched and led the now-worldwide revolution into building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) applications. As president of Solar Design Associates, Inc. – a group of architects and engineers dedicated to designing and engineering environmentally responsive buildings with integrated renewable energy systems (including the White House!) – he is recognized as the leading authority on the cutting edge of solar photovoltaic development worldwide.

Strong has represented the United States on the International Energy Agency’s expert working group on Solar Electricity in the Built Environment for the past eight years and has served as an advisor on energy and environmental issues to three governors, eight U.S. Senators and four presidential candidates, as well as a number of electric utilities. Strong also designed and oversaw the installation of three solar energy systems at the White House in Washington, DC. in 2002.

Strong is the author of The Solar Electric House and Solar Electric Buildings, an Overview of Today’s Applications. In 1999, TIME Magazine named Strong an "Environmental Hero of the Planet." In 2001, the American Solar Energy Society gave him its highest honor, the Charles Greeley Abbot award for lifetime achievement in advancing solar energy. In 2003, the Audubon Society named him its "Environmental Entrepreneur of the Year."

"If I had to identify the one single person who has both launched and led the now-worldwide revolution into building-integrated PV applications, it would be Steve Strong," says Donald Aitken, former national chairman of the American Solar Energy Society and senior consultant for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"Steven Strong has been an authority on photovoltaics for decades. He was in the field long before it was fashionable. He has a huge track record of installations and publications," notes Professor Alexandra von Meier, director of Sonoma State University’s Environmental Tech Center, who will also speak at the solar fair. "My students will be tickled pink to meet the author of their textbook!"

Strong will speak at the Solar Sebastopol Fair in the main auditorium at approximately 4:20 p.m. This free, local event on Saturday, June 19 at the Sebastopol Community Center 11 a.m. to 6 pm., is designed to educate and celebrate solar energy as part of promoting Sebastopol’s community campaign to install 1 megawatt of solar by year-end 2005.

"Steven Strong is on the leading edge of PV development worldwide! His presentations are typically loaded with interesting information and visuals from all over the world," says Fred Schwartz, manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Renewables and Advanced Generation Program and also a keynote at the upcoming fair. "Solar Sebastopol is extremely fortunate to have him as a presenter."

Additional details about the Solar Sebastopol Fair

Drew Bohan, California’s Assistant Secretary on Policy, California Environmental Protection Agency, will make another keynote appearance. Bohan is currently working with CalEPA Secretary Terry Tamminen on drafting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s solar policy.

The day will also feature several panel discussions, including ...

• Government and community leaders taking a look at practical strategies for strengthening renewable energy public policy and interacting with audience inquiries and feedback. Panelists are Tom Roth from the office of U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey; Calif. Assemblywoman Pat Wiggins; Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly; Sebastopol City Council Member Sam Spooner; and Daniel Solnit, founder of the Institute for Local Economic Democracy.


• Local experts examining the numerous socially beneficial aspects of solar energy, including Dave Erickson, Sonoma County Climate Protection Campaign, tracing the contributions of solar energy to reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Armando Navarro, Assistant Director of SSU Environmental Technology Center, focusing on the aesthetic and energy saving role of solar energy in green building design; and Geoff Sharples, Solar Finance Consultant, making the financial case for solar, beyond merely reduced utility costs to solar’s compelling but little understood investment incentives.


• Residential and business customers talking candidly about their various experiences with going solar and answering questions from the audience.

Several workshops will get down to addressing more of the practical and individual concerns of solar, including ...

• "Getting Started with Solar," an educational and practical session on the basics of solar energy, the essential information to make an informed decision about solar, and even a demonstration how solar actually works. Participants who bring along their PG&E bills can gain maximum personal benefit.


• "Solar Financial Incentives," a drill-down to inform about the many financial incentives available to both residential or commercial property owners. Representatives from the CA Energy Commission and the Northern CA Solar Energy Assoc. will explain the nuts and bolts of financial incentives to go solar.


• "Solar for Business," a business perspective of solar energy’s compelling return on investment and unique but little known cost incentives particular to commercial solar installations for businesses of various sizes and types.

The fair will also feature live acoustic music all day long with the Sonoma County Taiko drummers, the Farallons, Megan McElroy, Solar Flairs, and the Rene Douglas Duo – all on a stage powered with solar energy provided by local event sponsor Affinity Energy.

Wine and organic beer tasting along with lots of delicious, healthy food will be available for sale by local proprietors, along with ice cream made in a solar ice cream maker.

The Solar Fun Zone will offer activities for kids of all ages, such as making a solar-bead bracelet, baking cookies in a solar oven, listening to tales by professional storyteller Gabriella Randazzo, and more!

About Solar Sebastopol

Solar Sebastopol is the City of Sebastopol’s campaign to reach one megawatt of solar energy by 2005. This is the second solar fair, an event meant to be both a celebration and a rallying event for the second year of Sebastopol’s unique commitment to solar energy as a renewable and non-polluting source of electricity for residential, business, and municipal properties.

Solar Sebastopol is intended to promote Sebastopol's solar goal through educating people about solar energy, helping property owners determine whether solar makes practical and financial sense, arranging financing, and managing individual solar installation projects.

More about this year's fair
More about the Solar Sebastopol program