by Jbs020209d3 — February 4, 2009—The latest California Public Utilities Commission report on the California Solar Initiative (reportedly the country’s largest solar incentive program), shows that in 2008, Californians installed twice as many megawatts (MW) of solar power than the year before.
“Our vision of solar panels lining the rooftops of houses and businesses across California is becoming a reality,” says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “I’m encouraged to see that even in these difficult financial times we are breaking solar installation records and spurring private investment in solar projects. This program is helping to make solar power possible for hundreds of thousands of Californians–saving people money on their electricity bills while helping us meet our long-term renewable energy and climate change goals.”
According to the California Solar Initiative, it has spurred more than $5 billion worth of private investment in solar projects by California consumers. On average, for every $1 in incentive committed by the California Solar Initiative, an additional $6 in private funds is invested in solar technology in California. To date, the California Solar Initiative has paid or reserved nearly $775 million in incentives for total estimated project costs totaling over $5 billion.
The California Solar Initiative was first conceived in 2004 when Governor Schwarzenegger expanded state support for solar and announced the Million Solar Roofs Program. In 2006, the CPUC and the California Energy Commission collaboratively developed a framework for the program, and the California Solar Initiative was officially launched on January 1, 2007.
The January 2009 Progress Report is available on the California Solar Initiative Web site under “Recent News.”
