Sebastopol, Calif., June 8, 2004 - The lineup of speakers, workshops, and resources at the 2nd Annual Solar Sebastopol Fair & Celebration on Saturday, June 19 is designed to vet solar energy at every level - the practical, the financial, the educational, the political, the environmental, and even the aesthetic. Fairgoers will be educated and motivated by speakers at the forefront of solar energy policymaking and innovating. An environmental policy advisor to the governor, a metropolitan public utilities manager, and a professor of environmental sciences will address such fundamental matters as:

• Can solar energy ever really make a difference in slowing or stopping global warming or contribute to cleaner air quality?


• How does California's pro-business, pro-renewable energy governor propose to promote the growth of solar energy?


• How well is San Francisco's solar incentive program working? What are other California cities doing?

Panels and workshops throughout the day will focus on the more practical aspects of solar, such as:

• Is solar becoming more affordable? What's being done to help make this happen?


• Has solar actually fulfilled the promise of cutting people's utility bills?


• Is solar energy practical even for me?

The 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. fair at the Sebastopol Community Center also brings together more than 30 local solar energy professionals and other exhibitors ready to answer more specific questions, demonstrate solar equipment, and suggest next steps. Admission to the Solar Sebastopol Fair is free and open to the public.

The Solar Sebastopol Fair is being organized on behalf of the City of Sebastopol by a group of local citizens and volunteers who are committed to renewable energy and environmentally sound energy policy. Learn more about Sebastopol's community campaign to install 1 Megawatt of solar power in the Sebastopol area by 2005 by visiting: www.solarsebastopol.com.

Get informed: More about the speakers and panelists

• Drew Bohan is California's Assistant Secretary on Policy, California Environmental Protection Agency. He is currently working with CalEPA Secretary Terry Tamminen on drafting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's solar policy. Since 2000 Bohan has served as the executive director of the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Santa Barbara Channel.


• Fred Schwartz is the manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Renewables and Advanced Generation Program. Fred is responsible for the development and delivery of renewable energy supplies, distributed generation, and advanced energy supplies for the City and County of San Francisco. More recently, Schwartz is managing San Francisco's groundbreaking solar, wind, other renewable, and advanced generation projects for San Francisco's municipal facilities.


• Alexandra "Sascha" Von Meier, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Planning, and the Director of the Environmental Technology Center (ETC) at Sonoma State University, where she teaches courses on energy management and design. She is one of the original Solar Sebastopol task force members. Her students conducted the Sebastopol solar energy feasibility study in 2001 that led to the City of Sebastopol establishing the Solar Sebastopol program.

• Tom Roth from the office of U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey
• Calif. Assemblywoman Pat Wiggins
• Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly
• Sebastopol City Council Member Sam Spooner
• Daniel Solnit, founder of the Institute for Local Economic Democracy

• Dave Erickson, Sonoma County Climate Protection Campaign, tracing the contributions of solar energy to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Erickson is a recent graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University. He has been working as an analyst with the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, helping Sonoma County cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. He finally came to his senses after 25 years working in high tech, and is now doing something he thinks is truly worthwhile.


• Armando Navarro, Assistant Director of SSU Environmental Technology Center, focusing on the aesthetic and energy saving role of solar energy in green building design. Navarro will also talk about grant programs to encourage cities and counties to embrace green building standards.


• Geoff Sharples, Solar Finance Consultant, making the financial case for solar, beyond merely reduced utility costs to solar's compelling but little understood investment incentives. As a finance consultant, Sharples has researched and arranged financing for both commercial and residential solar projects. He is intimately familiar with financing resources and issues due to his background in power project finance. He has also worked in sales support and sales operations roles, helping to foster understanding between financing parties and customers.

Finally, a group of residential and business customers talk candidly about their various experiences with going solar and answer audience questions.

Get Practical: More about the workshops

Get Specific: Meet local solar professionals

Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions

Affinity Energy

Alternative Energy Inc.

Alternative Power Systems

Cooperative Community Energy

DC Power Systems

GreenLight Solar

Harmony Farm Supply

Marin Solar

North Bay Solar Electric

North Coast Solar Resources

Sebastopol Heat & Cool

Sine Electric

SolarWorks

Solaris Solar, Lighting, & Electric, Inc.

Sun First!

Sun Power & Geothermal Energy

(NOTE: A complete listing of all fair sponsors and vendors is included at the end of this announcement.)

Get happy: Enjoy music, sustenance, and fun

Hear live acoustic music all day long featuring a the Sonoma County Taiko drummers, the Farallons, Megan McElroy, Solar Flairs, and the Rene Douglas Duo - all on a stage powered with solar energy provided by local event sponsor Affinity Energy.

Enjoy wine and organic beer tasting and lots of delicious, healthy food for sale by local proprietors. Try ice cream made in a solar ice cream maker.

Bring the whole family and stop by the Solar Fun Zone with activities for kids of all ages. Make a solar-bead bracelet, bake cookies in a solar oven, listen to tales told by Gabriella Randazzoat 3:00 and 4:00, have your face painted by a solar clown, and more!

About Solar Sebastopol

Solar Sebastopol, the City of Sebastopol's campaign to reach one megawatt of solar energy by 2005, hosts the second annual Solar Sebastopol Fair & Celebration on Saturday, June 19, 2004 from 11:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Center. This year's event is both a celebration and a rallying event for the second year of Sebastopol's unique commitment to solar energy as a renewable and non-polluting source of electricity for residential, business, and municipal properties.

Last year, the city partnered with Cooperative Community Energy (CCEnergy), a San Rafael based solar cooperative, to manage Solar Sebastopol. The program is intended to promote Sebastopol's solar goal through educating people about solar energy, helping property owners determine whether solar makes practical and financial sense, arranging financing, and managing individual solar installation projects.

For more information, see: www.solarsebastopol.com.

Made possible by the following generous sponsors and participants:

More about this year's fair
More about the Solar Sebastopol program