Fresno must lead the way in solar power

Opinion by HENRY T. PEREA and BERNADETTE DEL CHIARO

Fresno Bee

(Updated Thursday, June 1, 2006, 9:35 AM)

It is not a question of if, but when solar power becomes a mainstream and competitive energy resource in California. By adopting the right policies today, we can have a great deal of control over how rapidly solar power becomes a commonplace, cost-effective and common-sense solution to many of the threats facing the central San Joaquin Valley including air pollution, global warming and rising energy costs.

To help realize the great promise of solar power, this summer we will ask the City Council to adopt the "Fresno Renewable Energy Rebate Initiative," which would provide up to $2,000 in direct rebates and savings for homeowners who use solar energy.

The goal of this initiative is to make solar energy more affordable while reducing harmful emissions caused by traditional sources of energy. We believe it is essential to promote the next generation of clean energy technologies by providing incentives to those who can benefit the most, homeowners.

Experience over the past 10 years, both in California and worldwide, shows that if we invest now in creating the demand, the solar industry will meet it, and in doing so, will manufacture and install solar systems more cheaply. Since 1998, the cost of solar power in California has dropped 25%. As the solar industry learns how to build more cheaply, demand will increase, creating a "virtuous cycle" that will give solar power a tremendous boost in becoming a major source of clean, homegrown power in the Valley.

In addition to lowering the cost of solar power, incentives to encourage renewable energy will bring other benefits, such as jobs, cleaner air and lowered energy costs. According to the Electric Research Institute, building solar panels instead of fossil fuel power plants will create four to seven times more jobs. Further, for every solar roof, air pollution is reduced by at least one ton every year. Finally, with energy prices on the rise, everything we do to reduce our demand on limited fossil fuels helps lower prices for everyone.

Today, federal and state rebates lower the cost of a typical residential solar system to $10,000. The system pays for itself via lower electric bills in around seven years. Yet much more can be done to make sure that everyone can afford to go solar. Also, more needs to be done to ensure Fresno not only benefits, but becomes a solar leader. Fresno, with its high energy costs, numerous sunny days and stubborn air pollution is a perfect location for solar power.

This is especially true considering the region's unprecedented growth. Every year, more than 4,000 new homes are built in Fresno County. One of the most cost-effective ways to build solar power is to incorporate it into the roof during construction. Many manufacturers today make solar panels that look and act just like shingles, saving material costs and creating a neat, seamless look to the roof.

From a homeowner's perspective, incorporating solar energy panels saves money. According to Environment California Research & Policy Center, an average Valley homeowner using solar energy can expect to net more than $120 a year. Savings can be even higher for homeowners who also invest in energy-efficiency measures like efficient appliances and lights.

The bottom line is that solar power is no longer just for the stereotypical green technology enthusiast. Rather, solar power is ready for everyday California homeowners looking for some relief from rising energy and housing costs and who recognize that independence, especially energy independence, is priceless.

It is for these reasons and many more that the City Council should embrace the Fresno Renewable Energy Rebate Initiative. Imagine if Fresno were the first city in the state to achieve Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's goal of building half of all new homes with solar power. Over the next 10 years, that would mean more than 15,000 solar roofs in Fresno, several hundred new jobs, cleaner air, and more money back in the budgets of Fresno families.

Ultimately, it would mean Fresno can become the nation's premier solar city, "farming" the sky for clean, reliable and pollution-free energy. After all, Fresno was built upon its abundant sunshine and long sunny days. Let's start putting that sun to use, not just on the farm but in growing our city, as well. Let's make Fresno the state's solar power leader.