Glendale's municipal utility is proposing reimbursements for local residents who install solar electric panels, the latest in a surge of interest in alternative power sweeping the San Fernando Valley in light of California's energy crisis.
The proposed "Solar Solutions" program will be a $3-a-watt reimbursement for residential customers, as currently envisioned, although that could change as local leadership irons out details, according to the city's public benefit programs coordinator, Craig Kuennen. He said the proposal will probably go before the City Council in a couple of months.
"I've had customers calling," Kuennen said. "There's interest out there."
There's interest elsewhere in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys too.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, 65% of the 100 recent solar electric installations taking advantage of the DWP's new $5-a-watt rebate are in the San Fernando Valley.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved a motion by Supervisor Mike Antonovich for the county to study whether it's feasible to require new housing subdivisions to incorporate solar panels for electricity and heating water.
If the proposal wins approval, it could affect development in the area, such as Newhall Ranch, a 21,000-home planned community to be developed by Newhall Land & Farming's over 25 years.
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One Valley solar pioneer is Sherman Oaks resident Nick Ray. In 1980, the insurance executive installed solar panels to generate energy for hot water heating on the roof of his 2,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home.
Now, 21 years later, Ray has installed four additional 4-by-8-foot modules to produce electricity, a step he believes will knock 30% to 40% off his monthly energy needs. He'd wanted to do it for 10 years but held off because of the price. Cost of the 1-kilowatt system: $10,000, but with a $5,000 rebate from the DWP, he feels it makes sense.
"The motivations was always there," he said. "The subsidies just made it possible."
Clearly, many people are considering energy alternatives, particularly residents of the San Fernando Valley, where 32% of DWP's "Green Power" customers reside. These ratepayers agree to a 6% monthly charge to promote renewable power sources.
Some solar equipment manufacturers are staking claims locally to what they hope will become a more mainstream, and presumably more lucrative business.
