RICHMOND GLOBE
July 15 - 21, 2009

Richmond earns ‘Solar Champion’ recognition

From the Globe News Desk

On Tuesday, Environment California presented Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and the city of Richmond with a “2009 Solar Champion” award for ranking among the top 15 cities in the state for solar capacity. [emphasis added]

Richmond has more than 144 solar roofs totaling 5,076 kilowatts of solar power capacity, according to Environment California. The award comes at the release of Environment California Research & Policy Center’s latest report, “California’s Solar Cities: Leading the Way to a Clean Energy Future,” which analyzes the amount of solar power installed in California on a city-by-city basis.

“From our solar installation job training program, our solar thermal rebate program and our solar permit fee waiver to our many solar businesses, Richmond is leading the way to a solar future,” McLaughlin said. “We are profoundly committed to not only creating a sustainable environment, but also to creating those essential pathways out of poverty through healthy, clean energy jobs.” [emphasis added]

The report is the first study of its kind. The report found that San Diego has 2,262 solar roofs totaling nearly 20 megawatts of solar power; Los Angeles has 1,388 solar roofs totaling 13 megawatts; San Francisco has 1,350 solar roofs totaling 7 megawatts, and that Fresno and Bakersfield have more than 700 solar roofs each. Other Bay Area cities with large amounts of solar power include San Jose with 1,336 solar roofs totaling nearly 16 megawatts; Santa Rosa with 729 solar roofs totaling 11 megawatts; Berkeley with 648 solar roofs totaling nearly 3 megawatts; and Oakland with 643 solar roofs totaling 7 megawatts.

“A healthy and growing solar power market is taking hold throughout California from our large coastal cities to growing communities of the Central Valley,” said Dan Jacobson, legislative director for Environment California. “What we’ve seen so far, however, is only the beginning. The sky is no limit when it comes to putting Oakland’s clean and abundant sunshine to work.”

For more information about solar rebates and tips on going solar or to review the entire Solar Cities report, visit www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/energy/energy-program-reports/californias-solar-cities.