News

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July, 2010

4th of July parade!

Solar Santa Monica invites all solar advocates - that means you, your friends and family - to walk with us in the Fourth of July Parade! 

You will receive a FREE Solar Santa Monica t-shirt to wear (while supplies last).  

Check-in is at 8:30am on Sunday, July 4th. We will meet in front of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (Pico & Main St) to turn in waivers and receive a parade participant bracelet. Every participant must bring a signed waiver. (Those under 18 need a parent or guardian's signature.) Parade will begin at 9:30am.    

The route goes south on Main Street at Pico, turns right on Marine, and goes north on Barnard Way to the southernmost beach parking lot to disperse.  The parade lasts about an hour.  As we're walking we'll see neighbors and friends and demonstrate our commitment to our community -- and to the environment.  

Please email Drew or call (310) 804-8449 and let us know you're coming. We will see you on July 4th!  

June, 2010

Rebate Alert!

California solar activity is WAY up! And while rebates may be heading down, residential systems get an even bigger boost from the investment tax credit.

As you know, we can track the progress of the California Solar Initiative on the infamous “Trigger Tracker.” It shows the number of rebates approved for each “step” in the CSI system in each utility area.

As of June 6, there are more rebate applications “under review” in Step 4 for SCE than there are rebates left, so we can assume that new residential solar owners will soon be receiving the Step 5 rebates. This will mean a drop from $1.90/kW to $1.55/kW.

While this may seem like bad news, it is a reminder to us all that we’re meeting our state’s goals! And, with the 30% Investment Tax Credit still alive and strong, new Solar Champions won’t notice too great an impact. After all, the 30% is a deduction based on the TOTAL COST of the system – so, if your cost goes up slightly because of a smaller rebate, your 30% ITC will go up too!

But it’s always important to deal with accurate numbers, so if you’re in the midst of a bid review, be sure you go back for updated calculations.

If you need assistance, Solar Santa Monica is here to help.

May, 2010

Fraud Watch

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is alerting California homeowners about the need to select a licensed and qualified contractor before signing a contract for a solar energy project. Read the full press release here.

Solar Santa Monica urges residents to become as knowledgeable as possible before calling a contractor, and then to get several bids before deciding.  Our website lists “preferred contractors” that have signed up with the program, documenting their licenses, insurance and experience so that residents can have a higher level of confidence as they move forward. Click "Find Contractors" on the menu to the left.

Events

Solar Thermal Rebates Seminar

On the evening of May 12, join Solar Santa Monica at the Santa Monica Main Library, MLK Auditorium for an all-hands-on-deck meeting on rebates, with speakers on the new solar thermal rebate program.  Get updates on solar photovoltaic rebates, and information on potential new financing available through the City of Santa Monica.  Plus, solar thermal contractors will be there to answer your questions about how you can use the sun to cut your gas water heater bill.   

Mark your calendar now:  May 12, 6:30 p.m. for the expo, program starts at 7:00 p.m.  We'll be sending more details in a newsletter soon! Click here for a flyer.

Missed it? Want a copy of the handout? Click here to download ALL the information on incentives.

Green Living Workshops

Solar Santa Monica encourages residents to consider all aspects of sustainability – and the Sustainable Works course is the best overview you can get. The six week Green Living Workshop covers the following topics, one per week: Water, Energy, Waste, Chemicals, Transportation, Shopping & Food

Workshops meet on the Mondays listed below at The Green Life, 2409 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 from 7:00-8:30pm each week: November 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, and 14

To learn more visit Sustainable Works or sign up here.

Are you a Solar Champion?

Solar Santa Monica has developed a User's Guide to Solar PV Systems. Use this guide as a reference for safe use and sensible maintenance of your system.  Keep it in your files along with system user manuals, warranties, and installer contact info.

Time to Reconsider Solar for your Business

Allsteel office furniture welcomed Solar Santa Monica to its showroom on January 20 for a presentation on the “State of Solar, 2010.” Some 37 business owners and energy professionals attended to hear more about the latest developments in the industry, including Edison’s new solar-friendly rate, “Option R.” Gary Barsley, SCE’s Manager of Solar Initiatives & Self-Generation Programs, (shown above) offered perspectives that complemented Solar Santa Monica’s Michael Ware’s examples of how the new rate might work. If you are a building owner considering solar, contact Michael today for a free solar analysis. Click here to view the Power Point presentation.

July 2009

New Zoning Ordinance Standards Passed City Council

On July 14, 2009, the City Council amended the Zoning Ordinance in order to expedite solar installations through the Planning and Building permit processes. The Zoning revisions can be seen here.

Fourth of July Parade was a Success!

Solar Santa Monica invited all our solar advocates - friends and family - to walk with us in the Fourth of July Parade! 

All participants received a FREE Solar Santa Monica t-shirt to wear in the Parade. 

Parade route went south on Main Street at Pico, turned right on Marine, and went north on Barnard Way to the southernmost beach parking lot to disperse.

We hope everyone had fun! Pictures and videos will be posted soon.

June 2009

California Solar Initiative “Steps” Up

The California Solar Initiative Rebates are now in Step 4 for residential solar electric systems in Southern California Edison territory. The Step 4 rebate is $1.90 per AC watt. Additionally, the 30% federal tax credit still applies to the balance of the system cost after rebate, and there is no diminishment on the tax credit amount.

The Step 3 residential capacity goals have been met, and Step 3 solar rebate reservation requests already exceed reservation space. New applications will be processed at the $1.90 rate. As an example, a 4.2 kW AC system (4,200 watts) would now receive a maximum rebate of $7,980. (Rebates are diminished slightly if the solar array is shady or not aimed in the optimal direction.)

The Step 4 rebate level will last until the capacity goals are met, most likely sometime next year. However, it’s always better to work with your solar contractor to get a rebate reservation in sooner rather than later. Reservations may last up to one year.

Rebates for commercial solar electric systems remain at the Step 5 level for the time being.

Solar Santa Monica will be happy to answer questions about the CSI rebate process. Also keep in mind, our Preferred Solar Contractors will deduct the rebate amount from the total system cost up front. This deduction usually reduces your out of pocket expense by around 20%.

EcoHero Award

The EcoHero Award is granted by Sustainable Works, a local environmental nonprofit organization. The award recognizes the partnership between the City of Santa Monica and Santa Monica College.

Recipients for 2009 are Energy and Green Building Programs Administrator Susan Munves of Solar Santa Monica and Academic Senate President Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein of Santa Monica College. The EcoHero Awards were presented at a ceremony on Earth Day at Santa Monica College’s Center for Environmental and Urban Studies. Both the City and SMC help fund the Center for Environmental and Urban Studies, as well as Sustainable Works.

Shannon Parry, the City’s Sustainable City Program Manager and 2008 EcoHero Award recipient, presented Solar Santa Monica with this year’s award. She stated, “[Solar Santa Monica] has exhibited great leadership, created vision for energy independence and put a lot of sweat equity in our homes and on our roofs.”

Solar Santa Monica is honored to be an EcoHero Award recipient. We thank residents, businesses and property owners for believing in energy efficiency upgrades and onsite renewable energy. Santa Monica has roughly 1 MW of solar energy installed and there is 2.3 MW in the pipeline. Everyone’s effort in helping us become a net zero, energy independent community by 2020 is recognized!

May 2009

Green Building Tours
Saturday, May 2nd (10am - 3pm)
As a precursor to the sixth annual AltBuild, the City of Santa Monica is hosting Green Building Tours on Saturday, May 2nd. These tours of local green building projects are free to attend. Please visit whichever sites you like between the hours of 10am - 3pm. Docents will be available at each project to guide you through the green features. An online map features the 6 residential homes and 1 commercial office on the tours. How exciting - green design in action!  

RSVP to Brenden by email at Brenden.McEneaney@smgov.net or by telephone at (310) 458-8549.

AltBuild Expo
Friday + Saturday, May 8th - 9th (10am - 5pm)
The sixth annual Alternative Building Materials and Design Expo - AltBuild - will be on May 8th and 9th. With over 150 hand-picked exhibitors, AltBuild showcases to Southern California the latest and greatest in green building materials, sustainable practices, and design innovations. There will be educational lectures and demonstrations on both days, with Friday focusing on topics for trade professionals and Saturday being of interest to both trades and the general public. This one-of-a-kind regional event pairs eco-conscious professionals and the public to meet and discuss budding opportunities in their community. 

Topics of focus include: Green Building Technology and Products, Energy Efficiency, Alternative Energy, Sustainable Landscape, Water Conservation and Products, Waste Management, and Design Materials. In between speakers and exhibition products, come say hello to the Solar Santa Monica team. You can recognize us by our bright yellow t-shirts!

Admission is free. Bike valet parking is free. AltBuild takes place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (1855 Main Street, Santa Monica 90401). Please click here for an event flyer.

Santa Monica Festival: Revel with a Cause
Saturday, May 9th (11am - 6pm)
The Santa Monica Festival, occurring alongside day two of AltBuild, is a free family festival on May 9th at Clover Park. This year's festival theme is "Revel with a Cause" because the entire festival follows zero waste principles, anticipated carbon waste has been offset, and an interactive Eco Zone section offers tangible ways to incorporate sustainability into your life.

There will be two stages with music and room to dance. Activities include: Marketplace - for international shopping, Global Cafe - for yummy eats from local restaurants, Town Square - meet the people and businesses of Santa Monica, and Eco Zone - the first step to making a difference starts here. Don't forget to visit Solar Santa Monica's booth while you're in the Eco Zone. Also, enter the raffle giveaway and you too will go home with your very own sun-dazzling Solar Santa Monica t-shirt.

Admission is free. Car parking and bike valet parking are free. Santa Monica Festival takes place at Clover Park (2600 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica 90405).

Homeowner Solar Information Session
Saturday, May 30th (10am - Noon)
There will be a non-technical, comprehensive Homeowner Solar Information Session (HSIS) - hosted by Southern California Edison and Solar Santa Monica - on Saturday, May 30th. The session is FREE of charge, but due to limited space, pre-registration is required. To register, call the Solar Santa Monica office at (310) 458-4992 or call Edison at (866) 970-9221. Use the event number: 15-053009.

The HSIS takes place at the Santa Monica Public Library (601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica 90401) in the Multi-Purpose Room on the 2nd floor. Parking is under the library (enter on 7th St) and costs a fee. 

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Let's Celebrate Santa Monica's Newest Solar Development!

You are invited on Monday, March 23rd from 10:30am - Noon to help Solar Santa Monica celebrate a 30kW solar system installed on the roof of Santa Monica's newest affordable housing complex.

A dedication ceremony will take place at 10:45am hosted by Mayor Ken Genser.

Location: 2001 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404 (NE corner of Olympic & 20th)

NMS Properties' 100-unit affordable housing project opened in December. Highlights of the project include:

• 30 kW solar system installed by PermaCity, one of SSM's Preferred Contractors
• 375 SQ FT: compact two-story loft design by Killefer Flammang
• Ideal location for accessing major bus routes and walking to SMC

Refreshments served. Parking available under the property. Heading westbound on Olympic, turn right into the property.

RSVP to erin.hamant@smgov.net

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926 kW of solar at 165 solar sites in Santa Monica as of March 9, 2009 are generating 4,059 kWh of power a day

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California State Initiative Status

The 30% Federal Tax Credit has been the big news for solar in 2009, but do not forget about the great incentives the State of California offers for its utility customers.  The California Solar Initiative or CSI is an up-front one-time rebate based on expected performance and is calculated by size, tilt and location of the array.  For larger systems (50kW+), the rebate is based on the actual performance of the system over the first five years. 

Why act now?

The rebates automatically decline in "steps" based on the volume of solar megawatts confirmed within each utility service territory.  As Southern California Edison customers, Santa Monica residents are now in Step 3 of 10.  Step 3 is currently paying residents $2.20 per watt. 

Step 4 of the CSI is going to pay residents $1.90 per watt.  Based on installation patterns, the decrease of $.30 per watt is expected to take effect in the summer of 2009.  Solar Santa Monica recommends beginning the solar installation process as soon as possible to take advantage of the current pairing of rebates and tax incentives before they decline. 

See the steps at http://www.csi-trigger.com

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Santa Monica Announces Solar Guidelines

On October 27, 2008, Santa Monica's Preferred Contractors were the first to be introduced to the solar installation Guidelines being drafted by the Building and Safety Division of the City.

The Guidelines have been developed after months of working with industry trainers, solar contractors and staff from the Solar Santa Monica office. Their purpose is to help standardize solar installation and inspection procedures while making sure all Code requirements are met.

Download the Guidelines.

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Solar Alert!

Sign up now, connect in 2009, and you'll get the best of both worlds!

October passage of the "Bailout Bill" included important legislation for potential solar owners. Briefly, it gave solar a new lease on life!

Homeowners who put finishing touches on their system in 2009 can now get a tax credit to offset 30% of its cost - with no cap! For example, for a system that costs $30,000, the new owner could receive a credit of $9,000 to apply against income taxes. (In 2008, that credit is limited to $2,000.) Key to getting the new tax credit - the system must be "placed in service in 2009." Check with your installer and your tax advisor to be sure you qualify.

Commercial system owners, on the other hand, have had a 30% credit for the past two years, with no cap. For them, 2008 offers the most flexibility, since a special Section 179 write-off is doubled for 2008 (up to $250,000), and a 50% bonus depreciation is also available -- but both of these are available only until the end of the year. (In 2009, commercial systems go back to the "regular" Section 179 deduction, and the MACRS depreciation schedule.)

This alert isn't meant as tax advice. Be sure to consult a qualified professional regarding your own situation. But don't delay if you are in the midst of a solar installation or considering it. Timing your install could make a BIG difference to its financial payback.