California Senate OKs New Home Solar Power Bill

SACRAMENTO, California, May 20, 2004 (ENS) - The California State Senate passed a bill Wednesday that will require builders of new housing developments to install solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on a percentage of new homes beginning in 2006. Such a requirement is intended to help make the solar energy systems cost effective and help address anticipated energy shortages while preventing air pollution.

"Solar power is much more cost effective when included in the construction of new homes," said Senator Kevin Murray, a Democrat and author of the bill. "This bill simply requires that builders phase in solar systems during construction, reducing energy costs and air pollution at the same time."

Solar power works best on summer afternoons when the power grid is under great stress from demand by air conditioning units. Murray says if the bill becomes law the installed solar systems would offset thousands of pounds of pollution during the smoggiest months of the year and prevent the need to build new natural gas power plants.

"Several large scale housing developments have already begun offering new solar homes," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, energy advocate for Environment California, sponsor of the bill. "By creating a larger market, this bill will help drive down the cost of PV making it available to the mainstream homebuyer."

California remains dependent on non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuel and nuclear power plants for 90 percent of its electricity.

While the state has recently required utility companies to double renewable energy purchases by 2017, less than one percent of the state's electricity will come from solar power in the coming years.

"Our over-reliance on polluting power plants is what got us into an energy crisis in the first place," said Del Chiaro. "Solar homes not only save money and protect our health, they can also help stabilize California's electric grid."