California’s Solar Rooftop Initiative Progresses

Plan will significantly increase the state’s energy output, by the equivalent of five modern electric power plants.

By Meaghan O'Neill -- Interior Design, 9/15/2006

Since taking over the governor’s office of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to put environmental concerns at the center of his administration. Two years later, his plans are coming together. In particular, Schwarzenegger has focused on energy and pollution as concerns not only transportation, but also the built environment. In 2004, he introduced the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, $2.9 billion in incentives to homeowners and building owners who install solar electric systems; recently, he signed legislation for the initiative, known as SB 1, which will help expand and further implement the plan.

The Million Solar Roofs Plan will provide an additional 3,000 megawatts of clean energy and reduce the state’s greenhouse gas output by 3 million tons, “which is like taking one million cars off the road,” says the governor. With the help of the California Public Utilities Commission, the plan, also called the California Solar Initiative, is expected to lead to one million solar roofs in California by 2018.

Specifically, the SB 1 legislation implements the portions of the Million Solar Roofs plan that the CPUC does not have the authority to mandate. These include expanding the program to apply to customers of municipally owned utilities, crediting consumers for the excess power their solar panels produce, requiring that developers of more than 50 new single family residences offer a solar energy option beginning in 2011.

By adding one million solar roofs, California will significantly increase its energy output, by the equivalent of five modern electric power plants. The state’s other aggressive solar initiatives include requiring utilities to acquire 20 percent of the power used within the state from renewable sources.