Schwarzenegger Signs SB1--Million Solar Roofs...
at 3KW per roof equals 3,000MW of clean power, provided at the same time of day as peaking electrical (AC) demand. SB1 is predicted to provide rebates totalling US$3.3B toward US$24B of total installation. Installed base to rise from 20,000 homes currently to one million.
After a tortured, three year stay in the California legislature, this law now provides for:
net metering of up to 2.5% of peak demand from 0.5%. PG&E was forecast to run up against this ceiling in early 2007, as their service area is the most feasible for installation of photovoltaic panels.
Muni utilities--such as Palo Alto, Sacramento (SMUD) and LADWP--will have to develop their own solar rebate program. This is 20% of the residential power market.
20% of new SFD construction to be equipped with solar panels after 2011.
Feasibility--
You need to have a southern rooftop or at grade exposure available for six hours per day, in all seasons (in Marin, winter sun is blocked by ridgetops in some locations). Efficiency falls off when azimuth departs from due south.
You need approximately 250SF of area to lay out the panels for a 3KW system.
Aesthetics are not for everyone. Check with your local jurisdiction about what will be required
The Math--
California has a rebate program that pays for roughly 30% of your system. Rebate drops 7% per year until it zeroes out in 2016. The feds offer a $2K tax credit, regardless of the size of your system.
Here is a checklist for applicants. The cost of the system is exempt from property taxes.
I figure the effective cost per KWH is about $0.20--higher than our base rate of $0.12, but less than PG&E 130% of baseline (and higher) charges.
My guess is that we are two to three years away from the tipping point for widespread adoption of photovoltaic systems in the sunny Western states.
