What's New
Progress!
After celebrating one of the state’s biggest environmental victories with the passage of Environment California-backed SB 1, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, we are now celebrating the state’s progress in meeting this internationally significant new solar program. Since the program got off the ground in 2006, California has installed more solar power than in the previous ten years combined. We went from having 140 MW of installed solar power throughout the state at the end of 2005, to adding 200 MW, including 60 MW in the first half of 2008 alone. Click here to view more details on the progress of California's landmark solar program.
New Legislation to Promote Solar Power! Environment California is sponsoring another important solar power bill in the California State Legislature. This bill, AB 1920 (Huffman), would remove unnecessary barriers to consumers interested in going solar by allowing consumers to install whatever sized solar system they want and by requiring utilities to purchase surplus power from the consumer at the end of each year. For more information on AB 1920, click here.
Watch an episode of "California's Green" on solar houses. This episode features Environment California's Bernadette Del Chiaro. 27 minutes long. Special permission: Huell Howser, California's Green.
Making Solar Power Mainstream: Our Million Solar Roofs Vision
California
has some of the greatest potential in the world to benefit from solar power due
to high levels of sunlight. We also have some of the greatest need. By reducing
our dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, clean renewable energy such
as solar power can protect our environment while diversifying our energy
resources and helping to lower prices.
Solar power can also reduce strain on the electric grid by generating electricity
where it is used and hedging against rate spikes by generating electricity when
demand is the highest, on hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are
running. More.
