SB1: Million Solar Roofs Bill

From the Sacramento Bee - Lead Editorial, August 23, 2005
(contributed by Michael Lind)

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has a chance this week to separate himself from the narrow, parochial interests who often set policy in Sacramento and establish himself as a champion of alternative energy.

Will he see the light?

At issue is SB 1, the governor's legislation that would help spur the development of 3,000 megawatts of clean solar power by 2018. The bill would put California on the solar energy map, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and put new solar panels on as many as 1 million roofs in 13 years.

Supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and co-sponsored by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, and Sen. John Campbell, R-Costa Mesa, SB 1 is revolutionary. Thus, it has many enemies.

Utilities don't like the measure because it furthers the trend toward decentralized electricity generation in California.

Many home builders don't like the measure because it requires them to offer solar as an option on new production homes.

Some unions don't like SB 1 as it is written and won't like it unless it is changed to specify who can install solar panels and what they will be paid.

Democrats largely support solar power, but many are miffed that Schwarzenegger is behind the bill and don't want to hand him a major environmental victory.

All these pressures are now weighing on Nunez, who must decide if the merits of SB 1 outweigh the political downsides of offending certain constituencies, particularly the state's divided labor unions.

Some labor leaders are demanding their usual tithes to support SB 1, which would create a $2.5 billion subsidy for solar power on homes and businesses. The electricians union wants only certified electricians to install solar panels and has successfully amended the bill to serve that narrow goal. The laborers and carpenters unions now want that requirement removed, rightfully questioning why such specialized skills are needed.

To top it off, union leaders are now demanding that construction firms pay "prevailing wages" to workers who will be install most of the solar panels. That demand could destroy the tenuous economics of SB 1, which may be the intent of the proposed amendment.

Girding for a ballot fight with Schwarzenegger, Nunez probably has little reason to forge a working compromise on the bill. But he should, since it is good policy and will make him look like a leader instead of an insider.

The appropriations committee is slated to add the bill to its suspense file tomorrow and must approve it by Friday to meet the deadline for fiscal bills. The clock is ticking, and all eyes are on Nunez.

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Please take a moment to call and urge your Assemblymember to support the Million Solar Roofs bill.  Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this email to them.

You can call your Assemblymember, Audra Strickland, at 916-319-2037

Here is a sample message you can leave:
"Hi, my name is _____ and I live in _______ (your city).  I urge you to support the Million Solar Roofs bill, SB 1."

Then let us know you called.  This is an important part of our work!  It lets us track how many people each legislator is hearing from.

To report your call, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalifenergy.asp?id=234&id4=ES