Sacramento Solar News – The California Air Resources Board put solar in the mainstream recently triggering a “thanks” from SMUD.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) announced that they support the California Air Resource Board’s decision to adapt a requirement that 33% of the power from utilities in the state come from renewable sources like solar and wind energy by 2020.

This green energy, solar and wind power forward thinking was accomplished, in no small measure, by Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership and a democratic statehouse in Sacramento. [continue reading…]

Sacramento Solar News – Whoever leads the technology in renewable energy for the next generation will earn the future of mankind. The solar, wind and other sustainable power race is heating up and California is in a prime position to put some wood on the ball. (Which is another really good reason to vote NO on prop 23)

Nations and utility companies all over the world are entering the solar panel and solar installation ballgame with subsidies for a very good reason. Solar and renewables technologies can revitalize economies everywhere. Driving solar prices down will benefit everyone, it’s that simple.

The only thing at stake is the future structure of civilization which is dependent on which competing industry wins the race for personal energy. Powering your home, cars, electronics and your life with cheap locally non-fossil fuel produced energy is key for one very good reason.

You can produce your own electricity from locally installed solar and wind energy or you can buy it at high rates from central private power monopolies who will sell it to you for $5 and charge you $100 to deliver it. Read More [continue reading…]

The worlds renewable energy possibility are endless when measured against mankind’s needs. Solar energy, wind energy, and Geo thermal energy are already being used on utility scale.

In England the world’s largest offshore wind farm turned on the switch recently. Located in the estuary of the one of England’s major rivers it showcases what the kind of British ingenuity that concord the world.

Wind turbines, solar energy and renewables in all it forms are where the world is heading. Recently we read where California’s big utilities are jumping in with both feet. Its all a good thing. Read More [continue reading…]

Affordable solar is within reach for much of California’s residences but there are risks. What’s a feed-in-tariff you say? FIT (Feed-In-Tariff) are solar incentives that are popular in Europe because they gave solar a kick in the pants and created large markets because people could now get paid for going solar on a small scale (residential solar).

There is currently solar FIT legislation in Sacramento but there are also risks and serious opposition mostly by dirty oil and big utility companies who are theatened by the prospect of residential solar. (By the way… vote NO on proposition 23, it is NOT a jobs bill)

Blocking solar and renewable legislation is just plain wrong on many levels. National security, climate change, developing green careers and local jobs and dollars in our local economies and more household monthly dollars are just some of the reason everyone needs to get behind solar.

Changes in goverment policiys can affect FIT programs and since wall street and dirty oil have a stangle hold on the goverment and main stream media right now here is an example of the up’s and down’s of solar FIT programs: [continue reading…]

Sacramento Solar News – In the desert of California, a massive solar array will soon be powering 800,000 homes and bringing work to several hundred California households putting money back into local California communities.

Concentrating solar power is a technology that uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate solar radiation into a collector usually located in the center of the mirror. The solar thermal energy is then used to heat oils that in turn turn water into steam turning turbines to product electricity. These utility scale systems are complex to build but California has vasts deserts waiting to turn our clean renewable energy which produces jobs.

Parabolic trough collectors are the most common and cost effective when used on a utility scale. The California Energy Commission recently approved a massive 1 megawatt solar plant that will help bring clean electricity and jobs to California. Read More – [continue reading…]

Sacramento Solar News – The golden age of cheap energy in Sacramento County is over. The need for renewable energy and solar panels in particular, has come to the forefront in recent years. This has been driven not by global warming as first predicted, but by the end of cheap energy, not just in California, but in the whole of America.

More people in Sacramento are getting wise to this, and are investing in solar panel technology for their homes. Solar loans has become easier to secure along with solar leases. Solar panels in Sacramento are proven to be the most beneficial of all renewable technologies with useful solar module life manufacturer guaranteed for more than 25 years. Additionally, solar installation rebates and laws have made it easier than ever to reduce Sacramento area homeowners monthly utility expenses putting money back in the household and into the community. [continue reading…]

Bay Area California Solar News – Akeena Solar d/b/a Westinghouse Solar has decided to stop installing solar panels in California and focus on setting up a solar dealer network. Akeena solar has had a long history of service in California but with their new name brand agreement with Westinghouse, things have changed. By exiting the residential and commercial solar installation business, Akeena will also reduce overhead and lower their break even point. Read More Solar News – [continue reading…]

Sacramento Solar Commentary – Driving through an Auburn neighborhood earlier today I noticed a local solar company installing panels on the roof of a very expensive home. My mind first went to the dollar signs flashing in my head for the savings the homeowners were going to realize. But there is much more to solar than just money in the pocket. What I also saw were 3 – 4 workers who had a job installing the solar panels and had a means to support their family at the end of the day. I saw the local Metro Sacramento supermarket business which was going to benefit from the dollars from the workers as well as the savings the homeowner could now spend on other local purchases.

I also saw the pride in the workers faces as they went about their task with the knowledge they were making a difference in the world. Bravo to the homeowner who had the courage to take the step and go solar in Metro Sacramento.

Solar is more that beauty in the eye of the beholder. Solar is beautiful beyond the aesthetics of panels on a roof. Read More – [continue reading…]

Sacramento Solar News – Across Sacramento and all of California solar companies have been reving their engines over a sucessful home solar financing program that makes sence. PACE [wikipedia] is an acronym for Property Assessed Clean Energy. In areas with PACE legislation in place municipality governments offer a specific bond to investors and then turn around and loan the money to consumers and businesses to put towards an energy retrofit like installed solar panels.

The loans are repaid over the assigned term (typically 15 or 20 years) via an annual assessment on their property tax bill. PACE bonds can be issued by municipal financing districts or finance companies and the proceeds can be used to retrofit both commercial and residential properties. One of the most notable characteristics of PACE programs is that the loan is attached to the property rather than an individual. That means the loan stays with the home when it is sold and the new buyer gets the benefit of lower electrical bill from solar while the community benefits from local solar jobs.

Sounds like a win / win for everyone yes? Not quite… Enter Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac… you know, two of the large institutions that were “to big to fail”. It seems they are also big enough to dictate who gets what. Very dangerous for a democratic system that was suppose to be for the people by the people.

It makes us insane to think that the American taxpayer bails out Fanny and Freddie and the thanks we get is they block local jobs and clean renewable solar energy.

You can help with a simple step. Click here to go to Vote Solar, then follow the link. Your voice can make a difference. Take action to keep clean renewable solar energy affordable. Help wean us off of foreign oil and put money back into our local communities. Read More Solar – [continue reading…]