Brittle Power- PARTS 1-3 (+Notes) - Natural Capitalism Solutions

326National Energy Securitywithin the solar community. But they are a part of the energy picture, an availablepolicy option, that cannot be ignored.For example, several California communities have passed ordinancesrequiring solar water heating in new construction. 110 The first, a bipartisanmeasure passed in San Diego County in 1978, required solar water heatinginstead of electric ones in new all-electric buildings put up in unincorporatedareas, and was extended to all areas of the county in 1980. It appears to havehelped sustain a healthy pattern of development for the local solar industry,providing enough market stability for one manufacturer to install automatedmachinery for making collector boxes, 111 and has held solar prices steady during1978–81. Kauai County, Hawaii, has a similar requirement for solar waterheaters in new residences. 112 Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, which relocated outof a flood plain and in the process made itself solar-based and energy-efficient,requires that new non-residential buildings be at least half solar-heated. 113 NewJersey’s Energy Commission has asked the Township of Washington to reviseits local zoning and site ordinances to require proper solar building orientationand the use of solar water heaters in new construction. 114 Similar ordinancesare often a local part of larger energy programs which include state taxincentives, consumer protection, utility services, and public information. 115 Insome instances, abatement of air or water pollution may also be part of efficiencyand renewable energy development plans. 116Renewable energy development Under a unique venture guided by local governmentand funded by private investors, Oceanside, California has begunleasing solar systems to energy consumers via its Municipal Solar andConservation Utility. The customers pay a small deposit; city-approved dealersown and maintain the devices. Fifty-five percent of the customers’ municipalutility bills qualify for the state solar tax credit, which is available for privatelypurchased equipment or for equipment leased through a municipalsolar utility. Although Oceanside is a small city, the three leading syndicatesinitially approved under the program have capitalized it with twenty milliondollars—perhaps the nation’s largest concentration of capital for solar installations.The leasing companies raised the money by marketing investment packagesin California and elsewhere. The city charges a ten percent fee on grossrevenues collected. After the first thousand installations, the program willgenerate a net revenue stream for the city. 117Fairfield, California negotiated as part of its economic development programthe move of a semiconductor plant to its area. At the last minute, however,the deal collapsed when the Pacific Gas & Electric Company would notcommit the needed power. To avoid a repetition, Fairfield is developing a wind-