San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program Info

McGoldrick wants to “pause” this subsidy program because he thinks the money might be better used on municipal programs (Barbara explained why the subsidy was a greater public benefit used on the private sector as on muni projects - basically SIX TIMES as effectives). It sounds like he is OK with renewable energy subsidies to increase solar, so if that’s the case, than it has been clearly explained why the private sector subsidy is more effective, so we should be good to go and able to move forward… but it sounds more like a pissing contest between McGoldrick and the PUC, as the Board feels the PUC overstepped their bounds in their policy making.

He also wants means testing, which as I described before, could render the subsidy utterly useless (although could work well the way that Wade Crowfoot suggests in this video).

But push all that aside… here’s the real rub… Let me paint three very Imagine a solar energy customer in the following three scenarios:

Scenario #1. There never was a SF solar incentive - Then the customer just makes his/her decision based on ROI using the state and Federal credit, say,

200 SF homes go solar in 08.

Scenario #2. The $3000-$5000 local SF incentive program for residential homes is fully funded and accepting applications - with that extra money to sweeten the deal, significantly more people install solar, call it,

350 SF homes go solar in 08.

Scenario #3. The subsidy is frozen by McGoldrick and “up in the air.” for several months - Virtually every customer (and I see this personally, every day) says “well, let’s see how this thing pans out, I mean, hey, it’s $4000!”

40 SF homes go solar in 08.

The bottom line is that SUPERVISOR MCGOLDRICK IS UNWITTINGLY BUTCHERING RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH IN SF FOR NO GOOD REASON.

CALL HIM.

NOW.

Why does this discussion need to happen in the public domain while San Francisco citizens wait and lose. Why can’t they hash this out over lunch or a coffee, and then, if they can’t do it, bring it to a review like this.

Get the Word Out