GreenSage E-zine 04/2008

A Model Solar Program Produces Local Energy Savings
Equal to Removing 1,110 Cars Off the Road

GoSolarMarin founder, Lisa Max, and SPG Solar have announced the results of the GoSolarMarin Community Discount Program, that took place in Marin County, California. GoSolarMarin which started in earnest in November 2007 with the selection of SPG Solar as it exclusive provider announced that more than 100 new solar photovoltaic (electric) systems were purchased as a result of their efforts.

The systems, when installations are complete, would represent a total of more than 400 kilowatts of solar power, the equivalent of removing 1,110 cars off the road, 210 tons of pollution. It would require 1,716 acres of new tropical rainforests to reduce an equivalent amount of Carbon Dioxide.

The special pricing plan was conceived by a group of interested homeowners and organized by Lisa Max (who formed GoSolarMarin). SPG Solar was among 10 solar providers competing in an RFP process to be the exclusive provider of the 3 month program. The group discount program brought the price of solar power in Marin County down to $7.94 per watt from its previous pricing of $9.32. This resulted in a savings of more than $4,000 for the average 3 kilowatt installation. The GoSolarMarin program with SPG Solar as the selected exclusive solar provider began November 15, 2007 and ran through Feb. 29, 2008.

Max acknowledges SPG Solar's results greatly exceeded GoSolarMarin's expectations. According to SPG Solar's Sales Manager Ted Walsh, "we are actually selling and building at $7.94 per watt…. many people thought about solar, got bids, and then this plan ultimately made it better for them to finally do it."

Walsh added that "as far as Marin homeowners are concerned, as far as SPG Solar is concerned, and as far as (GoSolarMarin is) concerned, the Program was a great success. In fact it is one of the most successful community discount programs in California to date"

GoSolarMarin, which started from an effort by Max to make the purchase of solar more affordable for her home and then for a group of her neighbors, resulted in a coalition of more than 500 interested homeowners.

Although the GoSolarMarin Community Discount Program is officially over, Lisa Max in her role as the head of the GoSolarMarin will continue to serve as a resource for solar and renewable energy advocacy in Marin County. SPG Solar, headquartered in Novato, California, continues to be the leading solar PV integrator for homes and businesses throughout Marin County, the Bay Area and California. They are the industry's leading integrated developer, designer, and installer of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for homes, schools, businesses, agriculture and large-scale commercial and government facilities. SPG Solar has built over 1,000 solar PV systems in California alone including Copeland Creek Senior Affordable Housing, Fireside Affordable Housing, Mt. Tam Racquet Club, Throckmorton Ridge Fire Station, and Kentfield School District – the first all solar school district in the U.S. SPG Solar is committed to building the highest-performing solar PV systems with the highest return on investment.