Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

City Sets Targets for Solar Increase

CONTRA COSTA TIMES
By John Geluardi

RICHMOND - If a new grassroots organization has its way, Richmond's rooftops will soon be producing clean energy that's friendly to the environment and the pocketbook.

Solar Richmond held its first meeting this past week to discuss ways to increase solar energy in the city by five megawatts (roughly enough electricity for about 5,000 homes) by 2010. About 75 people attended the meeting to learn more about photovoltaic solar panels and brainstorm on ways to promote the technology as a sustainable energy source to city officials, businesses and residents.

To reach its goal, members will have to convince the public of solar power's economic and environmental values. Installing the blue photovoltaic panels on the roof of a home or business can significantly reduce monthly electricity bills and increase the value of the property, said Solar Richmond chairwoman Michele McGeoy, who also works for Real Goods Solar, a company that sells and installs the panels.

The panels generate energy during daylight hours and unused electricity is sent back to PG&E's grid for use by other rate payers. For each unit of electricity that goes back on the grid, the home is given a credit for future use. The price tag on a solar panel system can give some people sticker shock, but McGeoy said the initial investment pays off through federal tax incentives, state rebates and reduced energy costs over the life of the panels, which is about 30 years.

The cost of solar panels range from about $10,000 to $80,000 depending on energy needs. The average system for a home is $29,000, which generates 3.6 kilowatts. After a California Energy Commission rebate of $8,285 and a federal tax credit of $2,000, the system costs $18,715.

"Under good conditions, your return on that investment will be around 11.75 percent over 30 years," McGeoy said. "And that's not even considering the good it does for the planet."

The panels are a hedge against rising energy costs -- which average 7 to 8 percent a year -- because as PG&E rates go up, so does the value of the energy generated by the panels and credited back to PG&E.

"When you buy solar, you lock in your energy price for the life of the panels," McGeoy said.

Richmond resident Rudy Zeller, who attended the meeting, said he put solar panels on his home three years ago and he's become a sun-power enthusiast. "It's an absolutely wonderful system," he said. "my annual electricity bill was around $1,000, now it's down to $200."

Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin, who is a Solar Richmond committee member, said she was glad to see so many people show up for the first meeting. She said she is hopeful that installing the solar panels will also create jobs. "This is going to cause a lot of ripple effects," she said. "Clean energy, job creation and shifting Richmond's image are all things that seem to resonate very strongly with people."

Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at jgeluardi@cc times.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Solar Richmond, visit the Web site at www.solarrichmond.org or call 510-496-2722.