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Schedule of Events | Speakers | Panels | Workshops | Vendors
Music | Food & drink | Family fun | 2003 fair pictures
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 at the Sebastopol Community Center, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is FREE and open to the public.
(Map and driving directions to 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. In March 2003, the city of Sebastopol partnered with Cooperative Community Energy 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.
This year's Solar Sebastopol Fair's community organizers chose the theme "Make this your year to go solar!" with the goal of providing fairgoers with substantive information and connecting them with practical resources to answer their specific questions and concerns about solar energy. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to:
- Talk to local solar installers.
- Hear government and renewable energy leaders speak.
- See the latest solar equipment.
- Learn everything they need to know about going solar from A to Z.
- Discover how businesses can cut costs and make money on a solar energy investment.
Speakers
In addition to local solar installer booths and solar equipment displays, the day's events will include keynote speakers:
 Steven J. Strong, world-renowned solar design expert and author, who both launched and led the now-worldwide revolution into building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) applications. As president of Solar Design Associates, Inc. - a group of architects and engineers dedicated to designing and engineering environmentally responsive buildings with integrated renewable energy systems (including the White House!) - he is recognized as the leading authority on the cutting edge of solar photovoltaic development worldwide.
Alexandra Von Meier, Ph.D., Sonoma State University Energy Professor and 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 establishing the Solar Sebastopol program.
Fred Schwartz, manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Renewables and Advanced Generation, seen here on the roof of the San Francisco Moscone Center's 675 kilowatt, 60,000 square foot solar PV system completed earlier this year.
Drew Bohan, Assistant Secretary on Policy, California Environmental Protection Agency who is working with CalEPA Secretary Terry Tamminen on the draft of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's solar policy.
Panels
Government
A panel of speakers will address practical strategies for strengthening renewable energy public policy, including:
- U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey
- Calif. Assemblywoman Pat Wiggins
- Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly
- Sebastopol City Council Member Sam Spooner
- Daniel Solnit, Public Power Advocate
Solar Solutions
- 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.
Living with Solar
A group of residential and business solar customers will talk about their experiences with going solar and answer questions.
Workshops
Several workshops will also be presented to interested fairgoers:
- "Getting Started with Solar" - An educational and practical workshop covering the essential information for making an informed decision about solar energy and demonstrating how it works. Participants are encouraged to bring along their PG&E bills for maximum personal benefit.
- "Solar Financial Incentives for You!" - Details about the many financial incentives available to help you go solar. Representatives from the CA Energy Commission and the Northern CA Solar Energy Assoc. will explain the nuts and bolts of financial incentives to going solar.
- "Solar for Business" delves into solar energy's compelling return on investment and unique but little-known cost incentives particularly for businesses.
Solar installers, vendor booths, and displays
In addition to our sponsors, the following installers, vendors, and organizations will have booths:
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This event is made possible by the following generous sponsors:
COMMUNITY SPONSORS:
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS:
Larry Robinson
Jim Coconas
Howard Levy
Steve Beck
County of Marin
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