Originally published February 7 2006
California energy program stands to pump lifeblood into Coachella Valley solar industry
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A California state energy program is set to pump $3.2 billion into solar energy development over the next 11 years, and the resort town of Palm Springs is in a prime position to benefit from this program, as one resort has found that it could save up to $100,000 a year with solar power.
A multi-billion-dollar state energy program could help the Coachella Valley maximize one of its best assets - the sun.
The overall initiative would pump $3.2 billion into solar energy development in the state during the next 11 years and put panels on 1 million rooftops.
It was killing us," said Art Brigman, CEO of Club Trinidad, a Palm Springs timeshare resort that once counted the Rat Pack among its well-heeled clientele.
So Brigman led the charge to invest $1.4 million in an energy renovation that resulted in 670 new photo voltaic solar panels on the rooftop of the old club.
"We've got the best climate in the world in the Coachella Valley for solar energy," said Les Nelson, spokesman for the California Solar Energy Industries Association.
Rate increases since the California energy crisis had pushed gas and electric bills for Club Trinidad to nearly $150,000 annually, Brigman said.
The savings alone couldn't have paid for the initial investment, Brigman said.
But subsidies in the form of a $400,000 rebate from the utility company eased the burden.
The pool of cash that delivered $421 million through the Public Utilities Commission to big projects such as Club Trinidad's is dry.
Subsidies already have helped develop enough solar energy capacity to offset the demand of more than 30,000 homes on the state's strained power grid, Nelson said.
Critics have said the incentives subsidize production of today's expensive panels and don't encourage investment in research to make the technology more efficient.
Price still high for solar Price is another barrier for local homeowners, even if the new incentives go into effect.
For example, a system for a typical 2,000-square-foot desert home could still cost the buyer well over $20,000.
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