San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury • 2009-2010

To “go Solar”

Published: September 23, 2010 16 pages
View Original PDF

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114, F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126, F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150, F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162, F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174, F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, F181, F182, F183, F184, F185, F186, F187, F188, F189, F190, F191, F192, F193, F194, F195, F196, F197, F198, F199, F200, F201, F202, F203, F204, F205, F206, F207, F208, F209, F210, F211, F212, F213, F214, F215, F216, F217, F218, F219, F220, F221, F222, F223, F224, F225, F226, F227, F228, F229, F230, F231, F232, F233, F234, F235, F236, F237, F238, F239, F240, F241, F242, F243, F244, F245, F246, F247, F248, F249, F250, F251, F252, F253, F254, F255, F256, F257, F258, F259, F260, F261, F262, F263, F264, F265, F266, F267, F268, F269, F270, F271, F272, F273, F274, F275, F276, F277, F278, F279, F280, F281, F282, F283, F284, F285, F286, F287, F288, F289, F290, F291, F292, F293, F294, F295, F296, F297, F298, F299, F300, F301, F302, F303, F304, F305, F306, F307, F308, F309, F310, F311, F312, F313, F314, F315, F316, F317, F318, F319, F320, F321, F322, F323, F324, F325, F326, F327, F328, F329, F330, F331, F332, F333, F334, F335, F336, F337, F338, F339, F340, F341, F342, F343, F344, F345, F346, F347, F348, F349, F350, F351, F352, F353, F354, F355, F356, F357, F358, F359, F360, F361, F362, F363, F364, F365, F366, F367, F368, F369, F370, F371, F372, F373, F374, F375, F376, F377, F378, F379, F380, F381, F382, F383, F384, F385, F386, F387, F388, F389, F390, F391, F392, F393, F394, F395, F396, F397, F398, F399, F400, F401, F402, F403, F404, F405, F406, F407, F408, F409, F410, F411, F412, F413, F414, F415, F416, F417, F418, F419, F420, F421, F422, F423, F424, F425, F426, F427, F428, F429, F430, F431, F432, F433, F434, F435, F436, F437, F438, F439, F440, F441, F442, F443, F444, F445, F446, F447, F448, F449, F450, F451, F452, F453, F454, F455, F456, F457, F458, F459, F460, F461, F462, F463, F464, F465, F466, F467, F468, F469, F470, F471, F472, F473, F474, F475, F476, F477, F478, F479, F480, F481, F482, F483, F484, F485, F486, F487, F488, F489, F490, F491, F492, F493, F494, F495, F496, F497, F498, F499, F500, F501, F502, F503, F504, F505, F506, F507, F508, F509, F510, F511, F512, F513, F514, F515, F516, F517, F518, F519, F520, F521, F522, F523, F524, F525, F526, F527, F528, F529, F530, F531, F532, F533, F534, F535, F536, F537, F538, F539, F540, F541, F542, F543, F544, F545, F546, F547, F548, F549, F550, F551, F552, F553, F554, F555, F556, F557, F558, F559, F560, F561, F562, F563, F564, F565, F566, F567, F568, F569, F570, F571, F572, F573, F574, F575, F576, F577, F578, F579, F580, F581, F582, F583, F584, F585, F586, F587, F588, F589, F590, F591, F592, F593, F594, F595, F596, F597, F598, F599, F600, F601, F602, F603, F604, F605, F606, F607, F608, F609, F610, F611, F612, F613, F614, F615, F616, F617, F618, F619, F620, F621, F622, F623, F624, F625, F626, F627, F628, F629, F630, F631, F632, F633, F634, F635, F636, F637, F638, F639, F640, F641, F642, F643, F644, F645, F646, F647, F648, F649, F650, F651, F652, F653, F654, F655, F656, F657, F658, F659, F660, F661, F662, F663, F664, F665, F666, F667, F668, F669, F670, F671, F672, F673, F674, F675, F676, F677, F678, F679, F680, F681, F682, F683, F684, F685, F686, F687, F688, F689, F690, F691, F692, F693, F694, F695, F696, F697, F698, F699, F700, F701, F702, F703, F704, F705, F706, F707, F708, F709, F710, F711, F712, F713, F714, F715, F716, F717, F718, F719, F720, F721, F722, F723, F724, F725, F726, F727, F728, F729, F730, F731, F732, F733, F734, F735, F736, F737, F738, F739, F740, F741, F742, F743, F744, F745, F746, F747, F748, F749, F750, F751, F752, F753, F754, F755, F756, F757, F758, F759, F760, F761, F762, F763, F764, F765, F766, F767, F768, F769, F770, F771, F772, F773, F774, F775, F776, F777, F778, F779, F780, F781, F782, F783, F784, F785, F786, F787, F788, F789, F790, F791, F792, F793, F794, F795, F796, F797, F798, F799, F800, F801, F802, F803, F804, F805, F806, F807, F808, F809, F810, F811, F812, F813, F814, F815, F816, F817, F818, F819, F820, F821, F822, F823, F824, F825, F826, F827, F828, F829, F830, F831, F832, F833, F834, F835, F836, F837, F838, F839, F840, F841, F842, F843, F844, F845, F846, F847, F848, F849, F850, F851, F852, F853, F854, F855, F856, F857, F858, F859, F860, F861, F862, F863, F864, F865, F866, F867, F868, F869, F870, F871, F872, F873, F874, F875, F876, F877, F878, F879, F880, F881, F882, F883, F884, F885, F886, F887, F888, F889, F890, F891, F892, F893, F894, F895, F896, F897, F898, F899, F900, F901, F902, F903, F904, F905, F906, F907, F908, F909, F910, F911, F912, F913, F914, F915, F916, F917, F918, F919, F920, F921, F922, F923, F924, F925, F926, F927, F928, F929, F930, F931, F932, F933, F934, F935, F936, F937, F938, F939, F940, F941, F942, F943, F944, F945, F946, F947, F948, F949, F950, F951, F952, F953, F954, F955, F956, F957, F958, F959, F960, F961, F962, F963, F964, F965, F966, F967, F968, F969, F970, F971, F972, F973, F974, F975, F976, F977, F978, F979, F980, F981, F982, F983, F984, F985, F986, F987, F988, F989, F990, F991, F992, F993, F994, F995, F996, F997, F998, F999, F1000, F1001, F1002, F1003, F1004, F1005, F1006, F1007, F1008, F1009, F1010, F1011, F1012, F1013, F1014, F1015, F1016, F1017, F1018, F1019, F1020, F1021, F1022, F1023, F1024, F1025, F1026, F1027, F1028, F1029, F1030, F1031, F1032, F1033, F1034, F1035, F1036, F1037, F1038, F1039, F1040, F1041, F1042, F1043, F1044, F1045, F1046, F1047, F1048, F1049, F1050, F1051, F1052, F1053, F1054, F1055, F1056, F1057, F1058, F1059, F1060, F1061, F1062, F1063, F1064, F1065, F1066, F1067, F1068, F1069, F1070, F1071, F1072, F1073, F1074, F1075, F1076, F1077, F1078, F1079, F1080, F1081, F1082, F1083, F1084, F1085, F1086, F1087, F1088, F1089, F1090, F1091, F1092, F1093, F1094, F1095, F1096, F1097, F1098, F1099, F1100, F1101, F1102, F1103, F1104, F1105, F1106, F1107, F1108, F1109, F1110, F1111, F1112, F1113, F1114, F1115, F1116, F1117, F1118, F1119, F1120, F1121, F1122, F1123, F1124, F1125, F1126, F1127, F1128, F1129, F1130, F1131, F1132, F1133, F1134, F1135, F1136, F1137, F1138, F1139, F1140, F1141, F1142, F1143, F1144, F1145, F1146, F1147, F1148, F1149, F1150, F1151, F1152, F1153, F1154, F1155, F1156, F1157, F1158, F1159, F1160, F1161, F1162, F1163, F1164, F1165, F1166, F1167, F1168, F1169, F1170, F1171, F1172, F1173, F1174, F1175, F1176, F1177, F1178, F1179, F1180, F1181, F1182, F1183, F1184, F1185, F1186, F1187, F1188, F1189, F1190, F1191, F1192, F1193, F1194, F1195, F1196, F1197, F1198, F1199, F1200, F1201, F1202, F1203, F1204, F1205, F1206, F1207, F1208, F1209, F1210, F1211, F1212, F1213, F1214, F1215, F1216, F1217, F1218, F1219, F1220, F1221, F1222, F1223, F1224, F1225, F1226, F1227, F1228, F1229, F1230, F1231, F1232, F1233, F1234, F1235, F1236, F1237, F1238, F1239, F1240, F1241, F1242, F1243, F1244, F1245, F1246, F1247, F1248, F1249, F1250, F1251, F1252, F1253, F1254, F1255, F1256, F1257, F1258, F1259, F1260, F1261, F1262, F1263, F1264, F1265, F1266, F1267, F1268, F1269, F1270, F1271, F1272, F1273, F1274, F1275, F1276, F1277, F1278, F1279, F1280, F1281, F1282, F1283, F1284, F1285, F1286, F1287, F1288, F1289, F1290, F1291, F1292, F1293, F1294, F1295, F1296, F1297, F1298, F1299, F1300, F1301, F1302, F1303, F1304, F1305, F1306, F1307, F1308, F1309, F1310, F1311, F1312, F1313, F1314, F1315, F1316, F1317, F1318, F1319, F1320, F1321, F1322, F1323, F1324, F1325, F1326, F1327, F1328, F1329, F1330, F1331, F1332, F1333, F1334, F1335, F1336, F1337, F1338, F1339, F1340, F1341, F1342, F1343, F1344, F1345, F1346, F1347, F1348, F1349, F1350, F1351, F1352, F1353, F1354, F1355, F1356, F1357, F1358, F1359, F1360, F1361, F1362, F1363, F1364, F1365, F1366, F1367, F1368, F1369, F1370, F1371, F1372, F1373, F1374, F1375, F1376, F1377, F1378, F1379, F1380, F1381, F1382, F1383, F1384, F1385, F1386, F1387, F1388, F1389, F1390, F1391, F1392, F1393, F1394, F1395, F1396, F1397, F1398, F1399, F1400, F1401, F1402, F1403, F1404, F1405, F1406, F1407, F1408, F1409, F1410, F1411, F1412, F1413, F1414, F1415, F1416, F1417, F1418, F1419, F1420, F1421, F1422, F1423, F1424, F1425, F1426, F1427, F1428, F1429, F1430, F1431, F1432, F1433, F1434, F1435, F1436, F1437, F1438, F1439, F1440, F1441, F1442, F1443, F1444, F1445, F1446, F1447, F1448, F1449, F1450, F1451, F1452, F1453, F1454, F1455, F1456, F1457, F1458, F1459, F1460, F1461, F1462, F1463, F1464, F1465, F1466, F1467, F1468, F1469, F1470, F1471, F1472, F1473, F1474, F1475, F1476, F1477, F1478, F1479, F1480, F1481, F1482, F1483, F1484, F1485, F1486, F1487, F1488, F1489, F1490, F1491, F1492, F1493, F1494, F1495, F1496, F1497, F1498, F1499, F1500, F1501, F1502, F1503, F1504, F1505, F1506, F1507, F1508, F1509, F1510, F1511, F1512, F1513, F1514, F1515, F1516, F1517, F1518, F1519, F1520, F1521, F1522, F1523, F1524, F1525, F1526, F1527, F1528, F1529, F1530, F1531, F1532, F1533, F1534, F1535, F1536, F1537, F1538, F1539, F1540, F1541, F1542, F1543, F1544, F1545, F1546, F1547, F1548, F1549, F1550, F1551, F1552, F1553, F1554, F1555, F1556, F1557, F1558, F1559, F1560, F1561, F1562, F1563, F1564, F1565, F1566, F1567, F1568, F1569, F1570, F1571, F1572, F1573, F1574, F1575, F1576, F1577, F1578, F1579, F1580, F1581, F1582, F1583, F1584, F1585, F1586, F1587, F1588, F1589, F1590, F1591, F1592, F1593, F1594, F1595, F1596, F1597, F1598, F1599, F1600, F1601, F1602, F1603, F1604, F1605, F1606, F1607, F1608, F1609, F1610, F1611, F1612, F1613, F1614, F1615, F1616, F1617, F1618, F1619, F1620, F1621, F1622, F1623, F1624, F1625, F1626, F1627, F1628, F1629, F1630, F1631, F1632, F1633, F1634, F1635, F1636, F1637, F1638, F1639, F1640, F1641, F1642, F1643, F1644, F1645, F1646, F1647, F1648, F1649, F1650, F1651, F1652, F1653, F1654, F1655, F1656, F1657, F1658, F1659, F1660, F1661, F1662, F1663, F1664, F1665, F1666, F1667, F1668, F1669, F1670, F1671, F1672, F1673, F1674, F1675, F1676, F1677, F1678, F1679, F1680, F1681, F1682, F1683, F1684, F1685, F1686, F1687, F1688, F1689, F1690, F1691, F1692, F1693, F1694, F1695, F1696, F1697, F1698, F1699, F1700, F1701, F1702, F1703, F1704, F1705, F1706, F1707, F1708, F1709, F1710, F1711, F1712, F1713, F1714, F1715, F1716, F1717, F1718, F1719, F1720, F1721, F1722, F1723, F1724, F1725, F1726, F1727, F1728, F1729, F1730, F1731, F1732, F1733, F1734, F1735, F1736, F1737, F1738, F1739, F1740, F1741, F1742, F1743, F1744, F1745, F1746, F1747, F1748, F1749, F1750, F1751, F1752, F1753, F1754, F1755, F1756, F1757, F1758, F1759, F1760, F1761, F1762, F1763, F1764, F1765, F1766, F1767, F1768, F1769, F1770, F1771, F1772, F1773, F1774, F1775, F1776, F1777, F1778, F1779, F1780, F1781, F1782, F1783, F1784, F1785, F1786, F1787, F1788, F1789, F1790, F1791, F1792, F1793, F1794, F1795, F1796, F1797, F1798, F1799, F1800, F1801, F1802, F1803, F1804, F1805, F1806, F1807, F1808, F1809, F1810, F1811, F1812, F1813, F1814, F1815, F1816, F1817, F1818, F1819, F1820, F1821, F1822, F1823, F1824, F1825, F1826, F1827, F1828, F1829, F1830, F1831, F1832, F1833, F1834, F1835, F1836, F1837, F1838, F1839, F1840, F1841, F1842, F1843, F1844, F1845, F1846, F1847, F1848, F1849, F1850, F1851, F1852, F1853, F1854, F1855, F1856, F1857, F1858, F1859, F1860, F1861, F1862, F1863, F1864, F1865, F1866, F1867, F1868, F1869, F1870, F1871, F1872, F1873, F1874, F1875, F1876, F1877, F1878, F1879, F1880, F1881, F1882, F1883, F1884, F1885, F1886, F1887, F1888, F1889, F1890, F1891, F1892, F1893, F1894, F1895, F1896, F1897, F1898, F1899, F1900, F1901, F1902, F1903, F1904, F1905, F1906, F1907, F1908, F1909, F1910, F1911, F1912, F1913, F1914, F1915, F1916, F1917, F1918, F1919, F1920, F1921, F1922, F1923, F1924, F1925, F1926, F1927, F1928, F1929, F1930, F1931, F1932, F1933, F1934, F1935, F1936, F1937, F1938, F1939, F1940, F1941, F1942, F1943, F1944, F1945, F1946, F1947, F1948, F1949, F1950, F1951, F1952, F1953, F1954, F1955, F1956, F1957, F1958, F1959, F1960, F1961, F1962, F1963, F1964, F1965, F1966, F1967, F1968, F1969, F1970, F1971, F1972, F1973, F1974, F1975, F1976, F1977, F1978, F1979, F1980, F1981, F1982, F1983, F1984, F1985, F1986, F1987, F1988, F1989, F1990, F1991, F1992, F1993, F1994, F1995, F1996, F1997, F1998, F1999, F2000, F2001, F2002, F2003, F2004, F2005, F2006, F2007, F2008, F2009, F2010, F2011, F2012, F2013, F2014, F2015, F2016, F2017, F2018, F2019

Findings and Recommendations 6 findings

F1
The State mandate to obtain increasing amounts of energy from renewable sources is driving government agencies to investigate new sources.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of all the county’s incorporated cities should actively promote and implement the AB 811 retrofit and rooftop solar program.
F2
Many government buildings, parking structures and schools are candidates for rooftop solar.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of all the county’s incorporated cities should use the media to educate and encourage local residents and businesses to invest in solar power.
F3
The Carrizo installations would be beneficial to the county, in that they would provide significant revenue from property taxes, and contribute toward the renewable energy requirement for the county.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The County Board of Supervisors and City Councils of all the county’s incorporated cities need to inventory all government building rooftops as potentials for solar installation.
F4
The first steps toward energy efficiency should start with retrofit of pre-1990 homes and buildings.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The County Board of Supervisors should use grant funds to make AB 811 projects more affordable (i.e. pay for audits or “buy down” interest rates).
F5
Outreach and support by the county for AB 811 is essential to make retrofit and rooftop solar a viable option.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The County Board of Supervisors should create a new position in the county to be responsible for all “Renewable Energy” programs.
F2020
And, as a bonus, reduce energy prices, eliminate environmental impacts and create jobs. Underlying Issues: Assembly Bill 920 (AB 920) In 2009, California lawmakers voted to establish “payback” for excess energy produced by homeowners’ rooftop solar installations. Prior to this decision (AB920), local utilities followed “net metering rules” which gave homeowners a credit on their monthly bill that could be used to offset higher energy consumption at other times of the year, but at the end of the year, any leftover credits were zeroed out. AB920 requires utility companies to either directly pay homeowners for 6 Santa Lucian - The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club – May, 2010 2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury this excess energy, or they may roll the credit over to the next year. Rates will be determined by the California Public Utilities Commission, and likely will be below retail. While the compensation to the homeowner will probably not be a significant amount of money, any excess energy which is produced will offset the upfront cost of the homeowner’s solar equipment and will no longer be “given away” only to be resold by the utility company. Cost of installation While the number of new rooftop solar installations has increased over the last several years, the total number of solar installations remains relatively small in this county, as well as nationwide, and private industry has not been inspired to invest a great amount in advertising or research and development. A new technology called “Thin-Film” solar is on the rapid rise and could revise current thinking. Thin-Film solar modules are less efficient at converting sunlight to electricity than traditional crystalline modules – which are made from silicon wafers – but they can be produced at a significantly lower cost and because of their flexibility greatly simplify the process of installation – another major cost savings. Potential Market Opportunity There are approximately 114,000 single family homes in San Luis Obispo County. County planning department statistics indicate that in 2009, 214 applications were received for solar installations. In 2008 there were only 167 applications. With 114,000 potential rooftops7, clearly solar energy is not being fully utilized. CONCLUSION The local governments of San Luis Obispo County could find great advantages in cooperating on an aggressive solar power initiative. Sunlight is abundant, particularly in the northern and inland reaches of the county. Investment now in solar facilities for public buildings could pay dividends 7 County planning department estimate 2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury for years. Funds and incentives are being made available to encourage individual homeowners to install rooftop solar. The creative mindset of local business leaders has been successful in taking advantage of the growing interest locally, nationally and worldwide in so-called “green jobs.” It’s time for cities to join the county in leading this effort. So far, the path has been outlined at the county level but more commitment remains elusive. It is difficult to dispute that any solar development that is economically feasible will produce major job and economic benefits. The environmental problems with the installations on the Carrizo Plains may be able to be mitigated. Certainly compromise could help on both sides of that argument. A county effort to “buy down” the cost of rooftop installations would pay off in jobs and very possibly in future energy savings for taxpayers as a whole. In summary, the Grand Jury believes it is time to take advantage of our assets: • Our local geography – lots of sunshine • Our talented work force that is searching for opportunities in the face of a difficult economic climate statewide • Federal and state government interest typified by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, AB 811, CaliforniaFIRST and AB 920 • The current recognition nationwide of the need for reduction of our dependence on fossil fuel emphasized by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill of April 10, 2010 To make these gains locally will take a lot more than talk, however. Bold leadership is a must. That may well require that the county establish a new leadership position to oversee all the programs, grants and opportunities that are available in order to maximize the county’s position. 2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury FINDINGS 1. The State mandate to obtain increasing amounts of energy from renewable sources is driving government agencies to investigate new sources.
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 4

No Responses Found 7

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Arroyo Grande City
Atascadero City
Grover Beach City
Morro Bay City
Paso Robles City
Pismo Beach City
San Luis Obispo City