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SACRAMENTO SOLAR ENERGY NEWS

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California is clearly the leading state of the solar revolution in America

by all accounts. Many important decisions are being made about solar rebates and energy strategies in the state's capital, Sacramento. In March 2008 Sacramento was named one of "12 Solar Cities" in America and awarded funding for further solar development.

According to an article published by Sacramento News & Review on 4/20/06, Sacramento is the "number one community in the nation for solar installations." This assertion was backed by SMUD executive Jon Bertolino, who created a map of Sacramento showing the growing number of solar installations in the county.

SMUD has been a big supporter of solar by offering rebates and developing its own "solar farm" at Rancho Seco, the former nuclear power plant shut down by Sacramento voters in 1989. Other big solar projects in Sacramento include Cal Expo, which is home of the biggest solar PV parking lot in the world and the upcoming Arden Fair project, which will become the biggest solar installation in town.

Despite its abundance of trees and shade, Sacramento is an ideal "hotspot" for solar delevopment since the city has an average of 320 days of sunshine per year. Many incredible solar developments have taken place recently in the capital of the nation's most powerful and populated state. Here are some highlights:

7/17/08 - This summer Del Oro High School of Loomis will install what may be the largest solar system for a Northern California high school, as reported in the Sacramento Bee. The system will cover nearly 50,000 square feet of roof space and generate about 450 kilowatts of solar electric power, yielding an annual savings of about $40,000 per year. The Placer Union High School District has agreed to purchase electricity at a twenty year fixed rate contract from Pacific Power Management, which will install, operate and own the photovoltaic system.

4/27/08 - Sacramento Bee quotes SMUD statistics that in 2008 so far

plans by local commercial, government and nonprofit organizations for solar installations represent 30 times the amount of solar power (17.1 megawatts) than any previous year.

4/17/08 - SMUD in a press release announces its SolarShares pilot program will launch in July. The program, similar to the utility's Greenergy program, will open the doors to its customers for affordable solar electric energy generated by a one megawatt solar panel array being built in Wilton by enXco, which will sell power to SMUD at a reduced rate. SMUD says it received 27 bids and proposals before awarding the contract to enXco.

4/4/08 - SMUD announces it has entered an agreement with Utah-based home builder Woodside Homes to build 1,487 solar-powered homes in Rancho Cordova and Rancho Murieta by 2012.

4/2/08 - Sacramento Business Journal reports that Sierra College has

been awarded a $470,000 grant by the California Community College Chancellor's Office for training students on how to install and use solar electric equipment.

3/28/08 - The U.S. Department of Energy announces that the City of Sacramento will receive $200,000 for expanding solar development throughout the city. Sacramento was named one of 12 "Solar Cities" in America by the DOE. Read press release here.

8/21/06 - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs his "Million Solar Roofs Plan" which calls for one million solar roofs to be installed in the state by 2018, providing 3000 megawatts of power.

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