June 1, 2005
On June 1st, the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 1, aka the Million Solar Roofs bill in a 30-5 vote! Thank you to all of you who contacted the State Senate and helped make this happen. This vote represents a significant victory for solar energy in California -- but an incremental one. There's still work to be done. The bill must still work its way through Assembly committee hearings and a floor vote to reach the Governor's desk later this summer in time to be signed into law before this legislative session ends.
We still need your help! SB1 must be amended to ensure that contractors with general, C-10, or C-46 licenses can install solar systems. The current version of the bill passed by the Senate requires solar installations to be completed by a contractor with a C-10 electrician's license. Legislative advocates for many solar businesses and organizations are working hard to get this amendment added on the Assembly side to ensure that SB1 does not have unintended consequences. Current law permits contractors with either general, C-10, or C-46 licenses to perform solar installations. C-46 is a license specifically for solar installation work. Preventing two entire classes of contractors from performing work they are qualified and authorized by the California State Licensing Board to do would restrict competition, reduce the pool of qualified installers in the state, and limit consumer choice.
Watch for more information about upcoming actions you can take to support solar energy and to help shape California's Millions Solar Roofs Initiative as the bill moves through the State Assembly. Meanwhile, you can contact your CA Assembly representive and urge them to enthusiastically support this bill.
To learn more about SB1, go to: http://www.cooperativecommunityenergy.com/news/solarbills2005_info.html
For a great summary of SB1's key provisions, see Vote Solar's Million Solar Roofs Initiative Fact Sheet at:
http://www.votesolar.org/SB_1_Fact_Sheet.pdf
To see the text of SB1 as currently amended, see: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_1_bill_20050531_amended_sen.html
If you're interested in seeing who supports and who opposes SB1, see: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_1_cfa_20050601_084627_sen_floor.html
(Listed at the bottom of that web page.)
Let's make sure our State Legislators keep hearing our voices. We are making a difference. Thanks again for your support!