UPDATE -4/1/08

April 1st, 2008 · No Comments

Unfortunately this is not an April Fool’s Joke:

Friends-

San Francisco’s new solar program is under threat, and we need your to help turn things around.

In January, the SF Public Utilities Commission announced a pilot program to give incentives to San Francisco residents to install solar energy systems. It’s a great program- $3 million a year in incentives, megawatts of solar, and green collar jobs in the city. City supervisors voted in favor, and formed plans to turn the pilot into a 10 year program.

But don’t uncork the champagne yet. Last week, Supervisor Jake McGoldrick announced he plans a resolution to freeze the funding source.

That’s right. The pilot program was set to launch today, and local solar installers have already begun hiring new people, ordering equipment and signing contracts to install new solar energy systems. Now the program could be killed, or stalled indefinitely as the solar program gets tossed from committee to committee.

Can you call your Supervisor today–this morning? Tell him/her:

o To keep the SF Solar Program on track. Don’t freeze the MECA funds.
o Tell him you support solar in the city, for the clean air, green jobs, and climate change benefits.

Board of Supervisors are meeting today, April 1, at 2 PM at City Hall. Supervisor McGoldrick will introduce his resolution to freeze the solar program funds. If you can, come out to City Hall and let the City know voters support solar. For more information contact Claudia at claudia@votesolar.org.

Below are telephone numbers of the city supes. If you are unsure of your district, check here.

Michela Alioto-Pier, District 2
(415) 554-7752
Tom Ammiano, District 9
(415) 554-5144
Carmen Chu, District 4
(415) 554-7460
Chris Daly, District 6
(415) 554-7970
Bevan Dufty, District 8
(415) 554-6968
Sean Elsbernd, District 7
(415) 554-6516
Sophie Maxwell, District 10
(415) 554-7670
Jake McGoldrick, District 1
(415) 554-7410
Ross Mirkarimi, District 5
(415) 554-7630
Aaron Peskin, District 3
(415) 554-7450
Gerardo Sandoval, District 11
(415) 554-6975

Polite calls are the most effective (more flies with honey, etc). Many thanks-

Onwards

Claudia Eyzaguirre and the Vote Solar team
The Vote Solar Initiative
300 Brannan Street, Suite 609
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.votesolar.org