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CCEnergy adds clout to renewable energy legislative win

September 23, 2002, San Rafael, California - Cooperative Community Energy, a California solar sales and service cooperative corporation headquartered in San Rafael, joined forces with other California solar energy consumer, environmental, and industry groups to win three critical battles during the State Legislature's recent session. In addition to ensuring the sustained growth of the state's thriving solar industry, these legislative victories demonstrate broad based support for renewable energy. This is not a partisan issue; it is a question of California's energy future and the votes on these bills demonstrate the importance of sustainable energy independence.

1. California Energy Commission's Buydown Rebate Fund program preserved

Gov. Davis signed SB 1038 (Sen. Byron Sher, D-Stanford) into law Sept. 12, 2002, a bill that includes the Renewable Investment Plan (RIP) authorizing the renewal and extension of the CEC Emerging Buydown Program fund for an additional 10 years. Under the buydown program, which has been instrumental in encouraging consumers and businesses to install photovoltaic systems, the state currently rebates $4.50 per watt or up to half the cost of an installed and grid-tied renewable energy system. Energy customers who have taken advantage of this rebate are now generating clean electricity into the power grid, reducing the burden on the state to buy energy during peak demand periods.

2. Net metering allowance preserved

AB 58 (Assem. Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek) extends net metering for utility customer-generators with photovoltaic (PV) systems between 10 kilowatts and one megawatt in size. Net metering allows solar photovoltaic (PV) customers who are tied to the power grid to send surplus electricity back into the grid and receive credit from utilities such as PG&E or Southern California Edison. Because the electrical grid serves as a giant network, net metering means that other utility customers benefit by sharing in clean, locally generated, renewable power. Without AB 58, net metering would have ended this year.

Thanks to net metering, large-scale solar systems (between 100 kW and 1 MW in size) installations in California have increased 876% in recent years. Several forward-thinking businesses and governmental agencies - Cypress Semiconductor, US Postal Service, California Franchise Tax Board, Sonoma County, and Whole Foods Markets - have installed large-scale solar electric systems in the past year. Alameda County installed a 1.2 MW solar array, the largest rooftop array in the U.S., and the fourth largest solar PV system in the world.

3. Solar tax credit saved

The state established a 15% income tax credit in 2001 for those who purchase and install a solar energy system. The Governor and others repeatedly attempted to suspend this tax credit as a means of balancing the 2002-2003 state budget. Along with scores of other solar advocates, CCEnergy organized our members and supporters to write to their legislators, urging them to keep this important incentive. The solar tax credit survived intact in the final budget signed by Gov. Davis.

About Cooperative Community Energy
Cooperative Community Energy (CCEnergy) is a California solar energy equipment cooperative headquartered in San Rafael and with branch offices throughout California. Cooperative Community Energy provides consumer buying power to members who want to generate clean safe energy at reasonable prices. CCEnergy makes purchasing renewable energy easy, affordable, and rewarding for purchasers by insisting on "high quality equipment, low prices, and complete sun-to-meter service."

For more information or membership details, call to make an appointment to meet the CCEnergy team in person at 534 Fourth Street, Suite C in downtown San Rafael (right off of highway 101 and just a few blocks east from the Hetherton Golden Gate Transit bus station). Call 1-877-228-8700 or 415-457-0215, write to info@ccenergy.com, or see http://www.ccenergy.com.

Contact: Scott Ragsdale
1-877-228-8700 or
415-457-0215

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