Three Lessons from California's Million Solar Roofs Milestone
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ENVIRONMENT CALIFORNIA Your Summer Report Photo credits: Tomas Ovalle. Top photo: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz via Shutterstock. Jurgielewicz Mariusz S. photo: Top Phanom Nuangchomphoo via Shutterstock. photo: Ovalle. Top Tomas Staff. Photo credits: Three lessons from California’s Million Solar Roofs milestone They said California couldn’t build a million solar roofs. But the skeptics were wrong. And that’s good, not only because the Million Solar Roofs Initiative grew our solar power, but also because it created momentum for new goals to repower our state and the nation with renewable energy. Back in 2005, we had already been through an energy crisis and rolling blackouts. Giant wildfires were still in our future, but we knew that solar power was a valuable part of the equation to combat the challenges of a changing world. At the time, a skimpy 20,000 solar installations existed statewide, meeting only a tiny portion of California’s energy needs. That didn’t make sense to state Sen. Kevin Murray of Los An- geles, who introduced a bill calling for one million solar roofs on homes, businesses, farms and schools. The goal was to help Environment California State Director Dan Jacobson shares a homeowners move toward energy independence, lower their moment with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during an electric bills, and make a smart move toward a better future. event celebrating the state’s millionth solar installation. The original bill required the installation of solar panels on every new home. But builders opposed it, thinking Califor- Even with those amendments, the bill still faced opposition. nians wouldn’t want to buy new houses if they were forced to But then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s commitment to the absorb the additional upfront cost of solar panels. So the bill goal was matched by champions in the Legislature such as state was amended to create a ten-year, $3 billion declining rebate Sen. Sam Blakeslee and Assembly member Fran Pavley, and by program to entice homeowners and small businesses to go so- strong public support in communities across the state. In 2006, lar, with a goal of installing 3,000 megawatts of solar capacity the bill became law. (enough to power one million homes). Continued on page 3 VOLUME 16 | NO. 3 Winter Report | 2019 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 tion to clean, electric cars, trucks and buses. and our national network called for action to Toward a greener future 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 Elena Elisseeva 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 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 385 Environment California Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 251-3688 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID BROCKTON, MA PERMIT NO. 430 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.