The Solar Community Program special purchase opportunity makes it more affordable for every Foster City home and business to go solar. SolarCity is only looking for 12-15 homes to go solar which represents about 50kW of installed solar power.
There are around 6,000 single family homes in our city. If 1% of these homes were to go solar, that would represent 60 homes. I think this is a very attainable goal. To put this into perspective, Mountain View has a 2% residential solar installation success rate after their popular solar community program completion last year.
Additionally, it is time for the City of Foster City to embrace solar power to set a positive example. The City would be making a great statement by simply having City Hall or the library go solar.
I also think that any new residential and business development should include some percentage of solar power. Now is the time for the new mixed-use residential/business re-development at the Lincoln Properties industrial park to go solar as well as our new downtown development, which include green building initiatives as part of its proposed plan.
If you think these goals make sense and are worth working towards, please let our city leaders know how you feel. You could also contact me and we could start a petition for the greening of city buildings and new developments. What do you say?
Friday, January 25, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Does Solar Make Sense With Low Power Usage?
I am often asked how high one's electric bill should be before solar power starts to pay for itself. Typically, power consumption totaling $100 or more per month helps to speed up the return on investment and a solar system can actually make its monthly loan payment if financed due to the power generated and sent to the grid at peak time. As an example, I financed my solar system and pay around $150 per month to service the loan, which is how much on average I would be paying PG&E for renting my electricity. I'd rather invest in clean solar energy, get the tax breaks and protect myself from utility rate increases and add value to my home at resale. So, this means I am spending nothing more for having a solar system than I would already be spending to rent my power from PG&E--it's cash flow neutral.
What if your electric bill is only $50 per month? Congratulations! It will be harder for a solar system to pay for itself in the short term, but consider the following:
You will get state and federal tax incentives.
You will protect yourself from electric power rate increases.
You will be ready for the not too distant day when plug-in hybrid and electric cars arrive. If you were to purchase a car that requires battery charging, your power usage will go up, but your solar system will keep your electric bill down.
You will be able to consider going to a solar electric water heater and save money on natural gas, even electric heating will make more sense.
You will be helping your neighbors lower their carbon footprint with the unused power that you send to the grid.
Now is the best time to consider clean solar energy, rebates are still high from the state, but will be diminishing in a few months, the federal tax credit will be going away after this year and purchasing through the Solar Community Program, combined with the city, state and federal rebates/incentives, could yield a 35% + discount!
What if your electric bill is only $50 per month? Congratulations! It will be harder for a solar system to pay for itself in the short term, but consider the following:
You will get state and federal tax incentives.
You will protect yourself from electric power rate increases.
You will be ready for the not too distant day when plug-in hybrid and electric cars arrive. If you were to purchase a car that requires battery charging, your power usage will go up, but your solar system will keep your electric bill down.
You will be able to consider going to a solar electric water heater and save money on natural gas, even electric heating will make more sense.
You will be helping your neighbors lower their carbon footprint with the unused power that you send to the grid.
Now is the best time to consider clean solar energy, rebates are still high from the state, but will be diminishing in a few months, the federal tax credit will be going away after this year and purchasing through the Solar Community Program, combined with the city, state and federal rebates/incentives, could yield a 35% + discount!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Solar Kids!
On Thursday, SolarCity presented a plaque to Mrs. Wong's third grade class for helping to persuade the city council to drop the solar permit fee, which was one of the highest in the state, a savings of several hundred dollars.
I was able to videotape the ceremony as well as interview some of the children from last year's third grade Foster City school's class. The experience was very fulfilling. Hearing the students talk about global warming and the benefits of solar power was very moving. The kids get it, whereas many adults are in denial. I feel blessed to be able to tell these kids story on videotape. Starting at the next free solar seminar, you will be able to see what these kids have to say about their future on this planet. Join us on Tuesday, January 22 at 7pm for this five minute video and the SolarCity presentation on the advantages of Solar Power. You can't afford not to!
I was able to videotape the ceremony as well as interview some of the children from last year's third grade Foster City school's class. The experience was very fulfilling. Hearing the students talk about global warming and the benefits of solar power was very moving. The kids get it, whereas many adults are in denial. I feel blessed to be able to tell these kids story on videotape. Starting at the next free solar seminar, you will be able to see what these kids have to say about their future on this planet. Join us on Tuesday, January 22 at 7pm for this five minute video and the SolarCity presentation on the advantages of Solar Power. You can't afford not to!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
First Free Solar Seminar Accomplished
Well, the first of five free solar seminars is done. We had a good turnout, with 24 attendees, most from Foster City, including Mayor Pam Frisella and Councilmember Linda Koelling, and Owain Chilton, member of Cool Cities Foster City.
I'd like to thank all who attended, our Solar Champions who helped get this program off the ground--Emil Michelotti, Owain Chilton, Marah Curry, and Alex Haines--by getting the word out by dropping flyers at homes, Mayor Frisella and Councilmember Koelling for their support of green initiatives, and the staff of SolarCity for putting on the presentation, Troy Pittock, our presenter, and Bruce Karney, the community programs director.
I learned a few things such as the state solar rebate will be diminishing probably in the March time frame due to the success of statewide solar installations. I had read previously that permits and rebate applications for solar installation in 2007 was 50% higher than in 2006.
I also learned that Foster City has an elevation of three feet. With the polar ice cap having melted 20% since 1979, that trend could have disastrous effects for our city if the seas rise a few feet in the coming decades.
Now is the right time to go solar. It's right for our planet, it's right financially--especially with the big Solar Community Program discount--it's what we owe our kids and their kids.
Going solar last year made so much sense for my wife and I. It was really simple, we could pay PG&E $150 per month, year after year to rent our power or we could take that same $150 and use it to pay off a loan for our solar system and get tax benefits, environmental benefits and feel good for doing it. Now, how's that new, fancy driveway with paving stones going to pay for itself every month? Besides, solar panels look pretty cool!
I look forward to seeing more of my neighbors at the next free solar seminar on Tuesday, January 22 at 7PM, Courtyard Marriott (across the street from Costco), Foster City.
I'd like to thank all who attended, our Solar Champions who helped get this program off the ground--Emil Michelotti, Owain Chilton, Marah Curry, and Alex Haines--by getting the word out by dropping flyers at homes, Mayor Frisella and Councilmember Koelling for their support of green initiatives, and the staff of SolarCity for putting on the presentation, Troy Pittock, our presenter, and Bruce Karney, the community programs director.
I learned a few things such as the state solar rebate will be diminishing probably in the March time frame due to the success of statewide solar installations. I had read previously that permits and rebate applications for solar installation in 2007 was 50% higher than in 2006.
I also learned that Foster City has an elevation of three feet. With the polar ice cap having melted 20% since 1979, that trend could have disastrous effects for our city if the seas rise a few feet in the coming decades.
Now is the right time to go solar. It's right for our planet, it's right financially--especially with the big Solar Community Program discount--it's what we owe our kids and their kids.
Going solar last year made so much sense for my wife and I. It was really simple, we could pay PG&E $150 per month, year after year to rent our power or we could take that same $150 and use it to pay off a loan for our solar system and get tax benefits, environmental benefits and feel good for doing it. Now, how's that new, fancy driveway with paving stones going to pay for itself every month? Besides, solar panels look pretty cool!
I look forward to seeing more of my neighbors at the next free solar seminar on Tuesday, January 22 at 7PM, Courtyard Marriott (across the street from Costco), Foster City.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
In Search of Solar Saturation
It's Foster City's turn to go solar! January 15 marks the kick-off of the Foster City Solar Community Program, a green initiative to help residents learn about the benefits of clean solar power and have the chance to save 20% or more on solar power installation.
My name is Jeff Regan and I'm helping get this Solar Community Program going in my city. My wife and I went solar in October and now we'd like to see our neighbors do the same. It's really a great feeling to be able to do something positive for our planet without much if any sacrifice. Find out how below:
At 7pm, on January 15, we will, in partnership with Foster City based SolarCity, hold our first free Solar Seminar, one of five between the 15th of January and the end of February. Homeowners and businesses will have the chance to learn about the environmental and financial benefits of solar power. If they like what they hear, they can save a lot of money on solar installation, just as the residents of 15 other California cities have done already.
The seminars will be held on January 15, 22, and 29, as well as February 6 and 21. Such topics as time of use metering and selling power back to PG&E to pay for the solar system, as well as info on city, state and federal incentives and rebates will be covered. Pre-registration for the free solar seminars can be done at www.solarcity.com/events or by calling 1.888.SOL.CITY. The seminar venue is the Courtyard Marriott at 550 Shell Blvd. in Foster City.
All we need is for 12-15 homes or businesses to go solar and everybody saves money!
Solar power offers homeowners a way to invest in the future--it's a home upgrade that pays for itself while helping the environment. You could spend $20,000 on a new, fancy driveway that will pretty much just sit there, or you could spend the same amount of money and get rid of your electric bill, get tax benefits, protect yourself from energy rate increases and help save the environment. Try getting that new driveway to do that!
Why not do something for your kid's future and come to one of the free solar seminars?
My name is Jeff Regan and I'm helping get this Solar Community Program going in my city. My wife and I went solar in October and now we'd like to see our neighbors do the same. It's really a great feeling to be able to do something positive for our planet without much if any sacrifice. Find out how below:
At 7pm, on January 15, we will, in partnership with Foster City based SolarCity, hold our first free Solar Seminar, one of five between the 15th of January and the end of February. Homeowners and businesses will have the chance to learn about the environmental and financial benefits of solar power. If they like what they hear, they can save a lot of money on solar installation, just as the residents of 15 other California cities have done already.
The seminars will be held on January 15, 22, and 29, as well as February 6 and 21. Such topics as time of use metering and selling power back to PG&E to pay for the solar system, as well as info on city, state and federal incentives and rebates will be covered. Pre-registration for the free solar seminars can be done at www.solarcity.com/events or by calling 1.888.SOL.CITY. The seminar venue is the Courtyard Marriott at 550 Shell Blvd. in Foster City.
All we need is for 12-15 homes or businesses to go solar and everybody saves money!
Solar power offers homeowners a way to invest in the future--it's a home upgrade that pays for itself while helping the environment. You could spend $20,000 on a new, fancy driveway that will pretty much just sit there, or you could spend the same amount of money and get rid of your electric bill, get tax benefits, protect yourself from energy rate increases and help save the environment. Try getting that new driveway to do that!
Why not do something for your kid's future and come to one of the free solar seminars?
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