Sebastopol, Calif., Dec. 5, 2003 -- Two Acre Wood, a 14-unit cohousing community near downtown Sebastopol, just completed the installation of a 3.5-kilowatt solar energy system today as part of the city's two-year Solar Sebastopol campaign. Cohousing resident and local environmental activist Marty Roberts, one of the founding members of Solar Sebastopol, spearheaded the Two Acre Wood solar project. The system will provide electricity for the common house and outdoor lighting.

Marty Roberts, far right, chats with solar installer Dick "Paco" Jordan and Solar Sebastopol program manager Pete Blair (far left) during the Two Acre Woods installation.

Roberts is also a founding member of the four-year-old cohousing community. While she has long been interested and active in promoting renewable energy, only this year did declining costs and financial incentives for solar finally become compelling enough to convince fellow cohousing members to make the purchase. By taking advantage of the California Energy Commission's Emerging Renewables rebate program, Two Acre Wood will get back about half of the solar system's cost. The homeowners' association is self-financing the remaining cost. For about the same monthly payment as the utility charges to supply electricity for the complex's common house and outdoor lighting, Two Acre Wood will pay down the loan and own its solar system outright within about 10 years.

For Roberts, a graduate of Sonoma State University's environmental studies program, the solar system at Two Acre Wood is part of making a dream come true. She is one of the original members of an ad hoc citizens' group who formed the "Solar Sebastopol" committee. The group met for two years hoping to initiate a solar bond measure for Sebastopol. In 2002, the committee invited students from the SSU's Energy Management Design Program to conduct a solar feasibility study under the guidance of Prof. Alexandra von Meier. The Sebastopol City Council endorsed the study's conclusions and set a goal of installing 1 megawatt of solar power in Sebastopol by 2005. The city subsequently partnered with Cooperative Community Energy, a solar equipment buyers' cooperative, to implement a citywide program that officially began in March 2003. Solar Sebastopol program components include:

• Raising general awareness about the city's solar goal


• Educating people about solar energy


• Assisting property owners in determining whether solar makes practical and financial sense


• Managing individual solar systems purchase and installation projects.

Solar Sebastopol is helping local homeowners and businesses take advantage of state-subsidized solar energy financing incentives while such funds are still available.

Solar systems must be connected to a utility meter to be eligible for the state rebate, like the system installed at Two Acre Wood. Under the state's net metering law, when such solar systems produce more power than used, the excess electricity is fed back into the power grid, literally spinning the utility meter backwards. The meter measures both usage and generation, crediting excess electricity generation toward the property owner's utility bills. Switching to a "Time of Use" residential electric rate is enabling Two Acre Wood to take even greater advantage of net metering benefits. The solar energy system will generate the most electricity during "peak" hours during the most expensive rate time, but the cohousing community's power usage is highest during the evening, or "off-peak," hours when electric rates are cheaper.

The financial incentives for Two Acre Wood to go solar - along with the environmental ones - have proved to be so compelling, two residents of the cohousing community are now pursuing solar installations for their own units. As more local installation projects like Two Acre Wood are completed, such growing awareness and interest in solar is building momentum toward reaching the city's 1 megawatt goal.

For more information about Solar Sebastopol, see: www.solarsebastopol.com.

About CCEnergy

CCEnergy is a solar energy cooperative headquartered in San Rafael, with area locations in Sebastopol, Davis, Oakland, East Bay and Arcata. The Sebastopol office serves members in the entire Sonoma County region.

CCEnergy is an organization for people who want clean energy for their homes, businesses, and communities. CCEnergy provides discounts on renewable energy equipment, design and project management services, and a strong voice in energy policy. CCEnergy recognizes that our energy future depends on far more than the successes of individual renewable energy businesses. By nurturing a "cooperative community" of solar installers, solar designers, energy efficiency consultants, local government managers, building department officials, financing institutions, and consumers, CCEnergy is working to grow a sustainable renewable energy market where all participants thrive. For more information, see: www.ccenergy.com.

For more information, contact:

Pete Blair
Solar Sebastopol / Cooperative Community Energy
707-829-1999
pete@ccenergy.com

or


Lori Houston
Solar Sebastopol / Cooperative Community Energy
707-529-8420
lori@ccenergy.com