Three Lessons from California's Million Solar Roofs Milestone

Photo credits: TomasStaff. Top Ovalle. photo: Top Phanom photo: NuangchomphooMariusz S. Jurgielewicz via Shutterstock. via Shutterstock. Winter Report | 2019 Winter Even with those amendments, the bill still faced opposition. commitment to the Arnold Schwarzenegger’s But then-Gov. goal was matched by champions in the Legislature such as state and by Sen. Sam Blakeslee and Assembly member Fran Pavley, strong public support in communities across the state. In 2006, the bill became law. Continued on page 3 Environment California State Director Dan Jacobson shares a Dan Jacobson shares State Director California Environment during an Arnold Schwarzenegger Gov. moment with former millionth solar installation. the state’s celebrating event Your Summer Report Summer Your - CALIFORNIA

VOLUME 16 | NO. 3 16 | NO. VOLUME The original bill required the installation of solar panels onoriginal bill required the installation of solar panels The every new home. But builders opposed it, thinking Califor That didn’t make sense to state Sen. Kevin Murray of Los An- That didn’t geles, who introduced solar roofs a bill calling for one million on homes, businesses, farms and schools. The goal was to help energy independence, lower theirhomeowners move toward electric bills, and make a smart move toward a better future. want to buy new houses if they were forced to nians wouldn’t absorb the additional upfront cost of solar panels. So the bill $3 billion declining rebate was amended to create a ten-year, so- go to businesses small and homeowners entice to program of installing 3,000 megawatts of solar capacity with a goal lar, (enough to power one million homes). Back in 2005, we had already been through an energy crisis andcrisis energy an through been already had we 2005, in Back still in our future, butrolling blackouts. Giant wildfires were part of the equationwe knew that solar power was a valuable to combat the challenges of a changing world. At the time, a meeting statewide, existed installations solar 20,000 skimpy energy needs. only a tiny portion of California’s But the skeptics were wrong. And that’s good, because not only that’s And were wrong. But the skeptics alsobut power, solar our grew Initiative Roofs Solar Million the to repower our statebecause it created momentum for new goals and the nation with renewable energy. They said California couldn’t build a million solar roofs. build a million solar They said California couldn’t ENVIRONMENT

Solar Roofs milestone Solar Roofs milestone Three lessons from California’s Million Three lessons Thanks Millions of Californians While COVID-19 kept our advocates from experienced more than 100 traveling to Washington, D.C., they spent for making it the week of March 13 holding more than dirty air days in 2018 55 phone meetings with congressional staff all possible Millions of Californians are regularly breath- to rally support for the Great American ing dirty air. Outdoors Act. This bipartisan bill would achieve our longstanding goal of full, per- Well, not just Californians: Environment manent funding for the Land and Water California Research & Policy Center’s recent Conservation Fund (LWCF)—a program report, “Trouble in the Air,” reveals that that helps conserve everything from hiking 108 million Americans lived in areas that trails to national parks. We also ran a social experienced more than 100 days of degraded media campaign highlighting the wonderful air quality in 2018. places made possible by LWCF funds. Nicolas Decorte/Shutterstock “Leaders on both sides of the aisle know the value of protecting our public lands,” said Steve Blackledge, senior director of our national network’s Conservation program. “Too many times over the years, Congress has diverted LWCF funding to other projects.

It’s time to fund it fully and permanently.”

New research underscores need to save the bees

New research has shed further light on the threat bees face.

A study published March 3 found that not only do neonicotinoid pesticides, also known While progress has been made since But the report highlights the particularly as neonics, harm or kill adult bees, they also the passage of the Clean Air Act, smog troubled Los Angeles, Long Beach and Ana- affect the developing brains of baby bees, still causes thousands of premature heim metro area, whose 13 million citizens causing “permanent and irreversible” damage deaths in the U.S. experienced a staggering 156 days of poor air that impairs their ability to function when quality. Exposure to air pollution increases fully grown. the risk of premature death, asthma attacks and other adverse health impacts. “There are three things we need to do right now to save the bees,” said Steve Blackledge, “No Californian should have to experience senior director of our national network’s one day of polluted air—let alone 156 days,” Conservation program. “We need to expand said Dan Jacobson, state director with En- their habitat by growing pollinator-friendly vironment California Research & Policy plants on public lands, we need to stop us- Center. “Air quality will only get worse as our ing neonics on lawns and landscaping, and climate warms, so we have no time to lose. we need to move toward more sustainable We must make progress toward clean air.” agricultural practices that reduce our overall need for pesticides.” Environment California is tackling a major source of air pollution by promoting a transi- This past Earth Day, Environment California Toward a greener future tion to clean, electric cars, trucks and buses. and our national network called for action to protect the bees and more than 17,000 sup- Support our work to build a cleaner, porters urged the Environmental Protection greener, healthier future by including With a chance for full funding, Agency to ban the most dangerous uses of a gift to Environment California or these pesticides. Environment California Research & Policy Conservation team rallies Center in your will, trust or retirement accounts. support for LWCF

For more information call Congress is considering a bill that would fully 1-800-841-7299 or send an email to: fund our nation’s best recreation and conser- [email protected] vation program—and our conservation team Get more updates on our work online at is working to get it over the finish line. www.environmentcalifornia.org

Environment California Elena Elisseeva via Shutterstock Kimball Nelson Page 1 story continued: California’s Solar Roofs milestone

Thirteen years later, we’ve surpassed our because they figured out that they were going original goal almost three times over, with to hit their goals early. Commitment to a goal 8,700 megawatts of solar installed, but at leads to technological improvement, then no additional cost to the state beyond the prices coming down, then greater use of the Our work to defend the environ- original rebate program. technology. This virtuous cycle is generating ment never stops, even during more solar power every day. a global pandemic. We’re still The state rebate helped bring down the advocating on your behalf (at upfront cost of installing solar, drawing more We’re going to keep hearing that it can’t be a safe social distance) for clean customers into the market. That encouraged done. So we need to go right on working air, clean water, clean energy, more skill specialization and technological with all the allies we can find, setting goals, wildlife and open spaces. Look- development all along the supply chain, and pushing toward a clean energy future. ing at what we’re accomplishing bringing down the price of rooftop solar together, despite all the chal- itself from $9.45 per watt in 2006 to $3.80 By Dan Jacobson, State Director, lenges we face, gives me hope per watt in 2018. Environment California for the future of our movement.

In 2019, California committed to the goals Originally published at Thank you for making it all of the original, unamended 2005 Million https://environmentcalifornia.org possible with your action and Solar Roofs vision, mandating solar on all support, new homes starting Jan. 1, 2020.

This story offers three lessons.

First, never underestimate the power of Dan Jacobson unexpected alliances. An unlikely cast of State Director characters—a Democratic state senator from inner-city Los Angeles, a Hollywood California’s journey to reaching 1 million solar Republican governor and some scrappy roofs is a story of bipartisan alliances and the activists—set the stage for what’s now a power of setting an ambitious goal. milestone in our nation’s energy transition. CALSSA

Second, never write off anyone as a po- tential ally. The builders who opposed the original bill in 2005 ultimately became big supporters of the program to create the 2019 solar mandate—because after ten years of implementing the voluntary program, they got used to solar.

Third, goal-setting works. Whether it’s a team reaching the World Series or astronauts landing on the moon, a goal attaches a big idea to a delivery date and gets everyone working together. Case in point: Of the 30 states that have set mandatory renewable power targets for their electricity mix, 25 of them have since raised their goals—most

Summer Report | 2020 Dean Fikar via Shutterstock

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Your Summer Report VOLUME 16 | NO. 3 | 2020

Our mission: We all want clean air, clean water and open spaces. But it takes As schools shut down, we came up with 50 independent research and tough- minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, environmental activities kids can do at home especially when powerful interests With schools closing across the country this to reducing energy waste, creating an outdoor stand in the way of environmental March, many parents wondered how their or indoor garden, hiking a local park or taking progress. kids would fill their days. Megan Severson a virtual tour of Yellowstone or the Florida That’s the idea behind Environment was ready to help. Keys, making art out of foraged materials, and California. We focus exclusively on much more. protecting California’s air, water and Megan, director of our partner group in open spaces. We speak out and take Wisconsin, came up with a list of 50 envi- “From gardening projects to virtual tours of action at the local, state and national ronmental activities kids can do at home, national parks, there are dozens of things kids levels to improve the quality of our released by our national network on March can do to stay busy, keep learning, and make a environment and our lives. 16. On Megan’s list: becoming an energy difference for the environment,” said Megan. waste detective by using our citizen’s guide “Like me, I’m sure plenty of parents would love to help their kids fill this time by learning Staff about the planet and how to protect it.”

Our Greener Together project aims to provide opportunities for those who are practicing social distancing to connect with the natural world and other like-minded people.

From gardening projects to virtual tours of national parks, there are dozens of things kids can do to stay busy, keep learning, and make a difference for the environment. Printed on recycled paper. Adam M. Wilson Photography Adam M.

Printed on recycled paper