Sacramento – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed yet
another landmark solar power bill today, The Solar Water
Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470), authored by Assemblymember Jared
Huffman (Marin) and sponsored by Environment California. At a celebratory event
at the CAL EPA headquarters, supporters of the bill touted its promise of
creating a mainstream market for solar water heating technologies by offering
$250 million in rebates for California consumers over the next ten years.
“By signing this bill into law, Gov. Schwarzenegger
is placing yet another solar power technology in the spotlight, harnessing for
it California’s growing demand
for renewable energy,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Clean Energy Advocate for
Environment California. “This bill is another
way California can become a Saudi Arabia of the sun.”
The new law launches the nation’s largest
solar water heating program and promises to bring a number of benefits to the
state including reduced global warming pollution, stabilized energy prices and
lower utility bills. A report by Environment California Research &
Policy Center showed that a
mainstream market for solar water heating could cut 6.8 million tons of global
warming pollution per year, while cutting natural gas demand in each home by
50-75%.
“Solar power represents a significant energy resource for California,” said Assemblymember Jared Huffman (Marin), author of AB 1470. “California can achieve greater energy independence, fight global warming, and save homeowners and businesses money by encouraging a mainstream market for solar water heating.”
AB 1470 is the follow up to the Million
Solar Roofs bill (SB 1) signed into law by Schwarzenegger in 2006, which creates
incentives for solar electric technologies. The rebate fund
would come from a 13 cent per month surcharge on gas bills and would result in
the installation of over 200,000 solar roofs. The program will
be implemented by the California Public Utilities Commission and individual
municipal utilities.
“Solar power can play a starring role in California’s effort to
solve global warming by enabling homeowners and businesses to take concrete
action right here, right now,” said Del Chiaro. “Harnessing the sun is a
no-brainer, and we applaud the Governor and the legislature for their vision
and support of big, bold solar initiatives like this.”
