Written by Kris Land
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made an important announcement on August 21st, 2006. The festivities marked the signing of SB 1, a $2.9 billion incentive plan that targeted property owners, both commercial and private. The goals of SB 1 are admirable, aiming to reduce the output of harmful greenhouse gases by as much as three million tons. The plan is expected to result in one million roofs outfitted with solar panels by the year 2018.
How will such a massive change be made? The first step in the Governor's plan is to expand the existing solar roof program. Prior to SB 1, the program was only available to residents who were customers of Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Pacific Gas and Electric. The update provided by SB 1 will increase eligibility to include municipally owned utilities including LADWP and SMUD.
SB 1 also provides a credit for consumers whose solar-panel-equipped homes or buildings produce more power than they use. The excess energy can be sold back to power companies in the form of a credit to the consumer's account. The original program only permitted .5 percent of customers to take advantage of this opportunity. SB 1 will increase that number to 2.5 percent, making credits accessible to many more consumers.
New construction guidelines will be changed thanks to SB 1 as well. Home builders that construct more than 50 new family homes will now have to include solar panels as a standard feature. This change will be effective January 1st, 2011.
Through the signing of SB 1, Governor Schwarzenegger hopes to put more solar powered structures on the
grid. Property owners can benefit from lower utility bills and the opportunity to sell back their extra energy for a credit. It seems like a win-win situation allowing consumers to live greener and pay less for energy.
Holding true to his campaign promise of making the environment a "centerpiece of [his] administration," Governor Schwarzenegger has focused much of his efforts on the green movement and assisting residents of California with living cleaner. The Governor hopes to promote the use of solar power energy through incentive programs and construction requirements that will make it easier for families to convert. The coming years will prove if Governor Schwarzenegger's efforts will meet the lofty goals the government has listed. In the meantime we are all encouraged to learn more about alternative energy sources and environmentally friendly living.
| ||||||
Related Articles:
Governor Schwarzenegger's Solar Roofs PlanKris Land
|
 |
|
|---|
Breaking News
if you have a printer with a double sided print option use it. You will save half of the amount of paper you would have normally used.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
