Solar bill passes key hurdles
The "Million Solar Roofs Initiative," aimed at creating 1 million solar-power rooftops in the state by 2018, cleared two key state Assembly committees Wednesday.
The Assembly Utilities and Commerce failed to pass this same bill last year, but on Wednesday it passed this bill along to the Assembly Housing Committee, which passed it Thursday. It now must be approved by the Assembly Approopriations Committee, with a vote likely after the Legislature reconvenes Aug. 15, before heading to the Assembly floor.
State Sens. Kevin Murray, a Culver City Democrat, and John Campbell, a Republican from Irvine, introduced SB 1 and were recently joined by Van Nuys Democrat Lloyd Levine as a primary co-author. SB 1 was approved by the state Senate in a 28-3 vote June 1.
The bill promises to grow the California solar market, already the third largest in the world, by 30-fold. It would establish a long-term solar power program to build a million solar homes and businesses over 10 years, including building half of all new homes with solar power by 2017.
Among other things, the bill would also establish a $2.5 billion fund to homeowners and businesses for one-time rebates over 10 years.
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