The Solar Energy Industries Association and PV Now together presented 2006 Solar Champion Awards to visionary renewable energy leaders in California and Nevada. The awards were announced Wednesday at Solar Power 2006, the nation's largest solar industry trade show and conference, in San Jose, CA.
"Through both legislative action and personal commitment, these champions of solar power have made solar energy development a priority for our poicy leadership in 2006 and beyond," said Rhone Resch, president of SEIA.
In California, the awardees are former California EPA Secretary and Chief of Governor's Cabinet Terry Tamminen, CEC Commissioner John Geeseman, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, Senator Kevin Murray, Assemblyman Mark Leno, California Energy Commission Chair Jackalyne Phannenstiel, CPUC Chairman Michael Peevey, and CPUC Commisioner Dian Grueneich
The 2006 Solar Champions award recognizes the State of California for its achievements in promoting solar power, and the state's major renewable energy achievements, including:
-The enactment of SB 1, The Million Solar Roofs bill, which will ensure the deployment of 3000 MWs of solar PV in California by the year 2017.
-The enactment of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) by the CPUC, and its implementation by the California Energy Commission. The CSI will provide for $3.2 billion of incentives toward solar development over 11 years. It also develops complementary policies and rules, sets new incentive levels, and addresses program administration.
At the conclusion of these programs, solar will be the lowest cost retail option for electricity consumers in the State of California.
In Nevada, the 2006 Solar Champion awardees are Governor Kenny Guinn, Sierra Pacific Resources CEO Walter Higgins, PUCN Chairman Donald Soderberg, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, PUCN Commissioner Rebecca Wagner, LVVWD Patricia Mulroy, and Senate Chairman Randolph Townsend.
In Nevada, the policy measures spearheaded by these 2006 Solar Champions included:
- Enactment of a comprehensive RPS (SB 372) with aggressive renewable targets (15% by 2013) which included enforcement mechanisms and had a 5% solar carve out.
-Enactment of AB 296, which monetized the benefit of on-site solar systems.
-Development of the first utility-scale CSP plant (64 MW) since 1990 which is under construction and schedule to go on line in 2007
-Development of the largest customer-owned solar PV project in the U.S. by the Las Vegas Valley Water District (3 MW)
-Enactment of SB03 which extended the RPS to 20% by 2015 and included energy efficiency and solar thermal systems
"As a result of these forward-looking laws, Nevada will have more installed solar electric generation per capita than any other state. What's more, these measures were enacted with complete bi-partisan legislative support and the support and cooperation of the State's IOUs," noted Resch.
SEIA is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants and marketers. Established in 1975, SEIA works to expand the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace.