Utility raids CEC rebate funds for 5 MW solar project [RE-wrenches]

[Jerry Caldwell]

I thought the following article would be of interest
to wrenches with a stake in the CEC rebates.  It can
be found on the SF Chronicl's website at
www.sfgate.com

Jerry Caldwell
Light Energy Systems
Concord, CA

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Despite protests, state energy regulators approve
solar power deal 

TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Writer   Thursday,
December 4, 2003   

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(12-04) 17:53 PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- 

California's second-largest utility won support
Thursday for a plan to spend public money on a major
solar energy plant that opponents say would deplete
state funds intended for smaller systems such as
rooftop solar panels. 

The California Public Utilities Commission voted 3-1
to let Southern California Edison Co. purchase five
megawatts of power from a proposed facility in the
Mojave Desert that would be owned and operated by
TrueSolar Solutions -- though Edison would be its
primary customer. 

The plant would be one of the world's largest solar
energy facilities, Edison said. 

"It's good news for ratepayers and the (solar)
industry in general," said Lars Bergman, who heads
Edison's renewable energy purchasing division. 

The vote Thursday was not a final approval for the
funds -- the California Energy Commission must still
approve any disbursement. Still, many solar advocates
objected, saying the project would raid a multimillion
dollar state fund intended to promote solar energy
systems where electricity is used on the site where
it's generated. 

Over the last five years, the state fund has mainly
subsidized the installation of rooftop solar panels by
homeowners, small businesses and government agencies.
The city of San Francisco, for example, tapped the
fund to install solar panels at the Moscone Convention
Center. 

Opponents say the money isn't intended for utilities
or energy sellers. 

"Raiding that fund will mean there's less money
available to consumers, businesses and local
governments to choose to install onsite solar," said
Janice Lin of the Berkeley-based PowerLight Corp. 

Neither Edison nor state regulators would say how much
money from the fund they expect the project will take,
though based on its size opponents believe it will be
millions. 

The fund was established in 1998 and at one point had
$250 million, but now has between $60 million and $70
million, Lin said. She was one of 11 people spoke
against the project during a utilities commission
meeting Thursday in San Francisco. 

Although the utilities commission approved the
contract, Edison and TrueSolar must still win approval
from the California Energy Commission, which hands out
money from the renewable energy fund. TrueSolar
representatives could not be reached for comment
Thursday. 

If approved, construction is expected to begin early
next year and the facility could start operating by
the end of 2004, generating about 11 million kilowatt
hours annually, Edison said. 

The contract would help Edison increase the amount of
energy it acquires from renewable resources such as
solar, wind and geothermal energy. Under a new state
law, state utilities must buy 20 percent of their
electricity from renewable sources by 2017. 

Southern California Edison expects to meet that
requirement this year, said company spokesman Gil Alexander.

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