In This Issue

Updated EPBB Incentive Calculator Now Online

PG&E Moves to Step 5 in Non-residential Sector

Next CSI Public Forum: April 17, 2008

CPUC Issues New Order Instituting Rulemaking for CSI Proceeding

CPUC Releases Staff Draft Proposal for Low Income Multi-Family Incentive Program

CCSE Hosts Fourth Annual San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) Awards

Call for Photos of CSI-Funded Solar Systems!

Useful Links

California Center for Sustainable Energy

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Southern California Edison

California Public Utilities Commission 

Go Solar California Web site

CSI Handbook

Greetings ,

Spring is here—and more sunshine highlights California’s enthusiasm for solar energy. This month’s featured photo, a 56.6-kW ground-mounted array, comes from the Deer Park Buddhist Monastery in Escondido, CA. Read on for important program updates and an opportunity to submit photos of your California Solar Initiative - funded solar installation.

Updated EPBB Incentive Calculator Now Online

On March 17, 2008, the California Solar Initiative (CSI)'s Program Administrators launched an updated CSI incentive calculator, primarily used for the Expected Performance-Based Buydown (EPBB) portion of the program. The calculator is an internet accessible tool used to determine the incentive level by calculating a project-specific "Design Factor" that adjusts the incentive level according to the project specific installation characteristics. The calculator is also used in the application process to project the incentive stream for projects in the Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) portion of the program.

The calculator now requires two new inputs—

PG&E Moves to Step 5 in Non-Residential Sector

On March 17, 2008, PG&E announced that it had issued reservations for all 49.9 MW in Step 4 (38.1 MW original allocation and 11.8 MW added from other Steps) for non-residential customers, and has moved to the Step 5 incentive level. Effective immediately, non-residential CSI applicants will be eligible for incentives of $1.55/watt ($2.30 for government/non-profit sectors) or $0.22/kWh ($0.32 for government/non-profit sectors.)

The California Solar Initiative Trigger Tracker provides an indicator of when the CSI incentive levels are expected to drop by showing the reservation and review status of all incentive classes. This snapshot compares the megawatts remaining in each step with the megawatts under review, so that users can estimate how close the incentives are to declining. When there are more megawatts under review than remaining in the step, then it may be probable that any new applications will be at the next (i.e. LOWER) incentive step level.

>> click here to view today’s Statewide Trigger Tracker.

Next California Solar Initiative Public Forum: April 17, 2008

Southern California Edison will host the next quarterly California Solar Initiative Public Forum on April 17, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center in Rancho Cucamonga. The quarterly public forums allow interested parties to discuss top-priority issues related to the California Solar Initiative program administration and implementation. An agenda will be posted online prior to the event.

>> click here to view the agenda online.

>> click here for map and directions.

CPUC Issues New Order Instituting Rulemaking for CSI Proceeding

In compliance with its procedural and statutory requirements, the CPUC recently closed the regulatory proceeding docket related to distributed generation, including the California Solar Initiative, known as Rulemaking (R.) 06-03-004. The CPUC has opened a new proceeding R.08-03-008 to handle the same set of issues. The document that opens the new proceeding – the Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) – describes the Commission's intent to use the new proceeding to continue the work from R.06-03-004 related to policies, rules and implementation of the California Solar Initiative, the Self-Generation Incentive Program, and general issues relating to distributed generation.

As part of the changeover to the new rulemaking, the CPUC will convene a Prehearing Conference on April 22, 2008, to discuss the ongoing scope and schedule of the proceeding.

>> click here to view the document that opened the new CPUC proceeding R. 08-03-008

CPUC Releases Staff Draft Proposal for Low Income Multi-Family Incentive Program

On February 29, 2008, the CPUC issued a Ruling calling for comments on an Energy Division Staff Proposal for a Low Income Multi-family CSI Incentive Program as part of the California Solar Initiative. The program targets owners of multi-family affordable housing complexes, defined under State and Federal guidelines, to promote equitable and cost effective solar energy use. The Commission has already approved a related program design for the Single-family Low Income program in November, 2007. The Energy Division facilitated a workshop on March 17 to discuss its proposal and solicit comments, which are due by March 26, 2008.

>> click here to view the CPUC Ruling Requesting Comments on the Low Income Multi-family Program

>> click here to view the CPUC Energy Division Staff Proposal for the creation of the Low Income Multi-family Program

CCSE Hosts Fourth Annual San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) Awards

On March 5, the California Center for Sustainable Energy hosted the SANDEE Awards. More than 250 people attended the event held at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center. The SANDEE Awards recognize outstanding projects and activities that achieved significant energy savings through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy or transportation measures in San Diego County. Among many other award categories and winners, the Special Achievement in Energy by a Medium to Large Business recipient was Hunter Industries, whose building incorporates two rooftop PV systems: a CSI-funded 80-kW system owned by Hunter that provides 100% of the lighting needs for the building, and a 102-kW system owned by SDG&E that provides locally generated renewable energy for the grid.

>> click here to view the SANDEE Award winners.

Call for Photos of CSI-Funded Solar Systems!

Each month, the newsletter will feature a photo of a CSI-funded solar installation. This month’s featured installation comes from The Deer Park Buddhist Monastery in Escondido, CA. This 56.6-kW system was installed by Solar Power Inc. and will receive a CSI incentive of approximately $158,000. The Monastery recently invited community members—including CCSE staff—to participate in a ceremonial launch of the system. The CSI newsletter seeks photos of solar systems installed under the CSI program. The program may use the photos in the next newsletter or other CSI-related publicity, such as brochures, presentations, or other marketing materials. When submitting solar PV system photos, please provide the following: name of photographer; name of installer; name of seller or system owner; system size and location; and full permission to use photo in CSI-related publicity.


>> click here to submit your photos (or preferably a link to online photos) to the CPUC newsletter.

Mark Your Calendar

CSI Public Forum
April 17, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Victoria Gardens Cultural Center
12505 Cultural Center Drive
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

>> click here for maps and directions

>> click here to submit a topic suggestion you would like to have covered in the forum Q&A.

CCSE Installer Training: CSI Program Changes Workshop
March 19, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave, San Diego CA 92123

>> click here for maps and directions

>> click here to register

PG&E Monthly Installer Workshop
April 18, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
851 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA

>> click here for maps and directions

>> click here to register

Southern California Edison Installer Training
April 8, 2008
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
6090 Irwindale Ave.
Irwindale, CA 91702

To register, please call (800) 336-2822 X-42537

>> click here for maps and directions

Solar 2008
May 3-8, 2008
San Diego, CA

Catch the Clean Energy Wave! Come witness the growing movement towards renewable energy as a key component in climate recovery, a strong and healthy economy, and a secure energy future.
>> Solar 2008

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