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Assemblymember Krekorian on the Importance of Solar Power

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  • Assemblymember Krekorian on the Importance of Solar Power

    PRESS RELEASE
    Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
    Adrin Nazarian Chief of Staff
    620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
    Glendale, CA 91203
    (818) 240-6330
    (818) 240-4632 fax
    [email protected]
    Contact: Adrin Nazarian

    September 11, 2007
    (916) 319-2043

    SOLAR POWER HARNESSED ON CAPITOL LAWN: Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
    joins fellow legislators, businesses, environmental and educational
    groups to demonstrate the viability and value of a mainstream solar hot
    water market in California

    SACRAMENTO - As temperatures approached 100 degrees, Assemblymember
    Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), spoke on the steps of the Capitol last week
    about the need to enact the Solar Hot Water and Efficiency Act of 2007
    (AB 1470), which will help free California from its dependence on fossil
    fuels, reduce air pollution and global warming, and lead to lower energy
    bills for consumers. AB 1470 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee
    yesterday and will soon be voted on by the full Senate.

    Assemblymember Krekorian, coauthor of this important solar energy bill,
    said that a statewide incentive program is a vital step in encouraging
    renewable energy development in California. "Investing in solar energy
    is not only positive for the environment, it is also essential to the
    economic future of this state," said Krekorian. "In an era of rapidly
    increasing oil prices, a robust solar energy program will save consumers
    money and create thousands of good jobs in California, all while giving
    us a healthier and more sustainable environment for the future."

    When he served on the Burbank Board of Education, Krekorian was a
    leading advocate for changes in the district's use of energy. Reforms
    that Krekorian spearheaded led to significantly increased energy
    efficiency in the district, including the installation of solar heating
    systems in the district's high school swimming pools. These reforms
    allowed the district to save millions of dollars in energy expenses,
    allowing more of the taxpayers' dollars to be focused on the classroom.

    "Modern solar water heating systems allow homes and businesses to slice
    their natural gas consumption by half," he said. "This helps consumers
    reduce their energy consumption, lower greenhouse emissions from
    traditional natural-gas water heating systems, and save on their energy
    bills. AB 1470 is a vitally important step in ensuring that we achieve
    those goals."

    Krekorian also spoke about the economic stimulus that would be created
    by the developing solar energy industry in California. Many of the
    leading solar energy businesses in the state were present for the press
    conference to demonstrate their cutting-edge products. "Throughout the
    world, people are suffering from skyrocketing oil prices and the
    environmental destruction caused by fossil fuels," Krekorian said.
    "There is a worldwide demand for renewable energy sources, and I believe
    California has every advantage in being the worldwide leader in this
    developing industry. We should strive to make California the Saudi
    Arabia of solar energy, and AB 1470 is another important step in that
    direction."

    "AB 1470 is a historic bill for California," said Sue Kately, Executive
    Director of the California Solar Energy Industry Association. "The solar
    water industry is growing by leaps and bounds worldwide. With this bill,
    California can step back into the lead bringing the state cleaner air,
    greater energy independence and more jobs.

    Assemblymember Jared Huffman, Chair of the Assembly's Environmental
    Safety & Toxic Materials Committee, is the author of AB 1470. "Solar
    power represents a significant energy resource for California," said
    Assemblymember Huffman. "California can continue to seek greater energy
    independence, fight global warming, and save homeowners and businesses
    money by encouraging a mainstream market for solar water heating."

    In addition to Huffman and Krekorian, other co-authors of AB 1470
    include Assemblymembers Mark Leno, Mark DeSaulnier, Amina Carter and
    Lloyd Levine and Lori Saldana, all of whom were present at the event.

    AB 1470 is a companion bill to the Million Solar Roofs bill (SB 1
    -Murray) signed into law last year. AB 1470 would create rebates for
    solar water heaters through a small surcharge on gas bills.

    During the press conference on AB 1470, numerous displays were set up on
    the North Capitol Lawn to demonstrate how solar water heaters work and
    the benefits of a mainstream solar power market. Educational booths
    included those by Solarhart, Heliodyne, Sierra Pacific Solar,
    SunTechnics, FAFCO, CALSEIA, Davis Energy Group, California Sustainable
    Energy Center, Rahus Institute, Trendsetter Industries and The Solar
    Depot. CALSEIA provided free ice-cream cones, which were kept cool with
    solar electric power by an Akeena Solar mobile photovoltaic truck. Also
    present at the event was Environment California, the Clean Power
    Campaign, and the Planning and Conservation League.

    Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the cities of
    Burbank and Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater
    Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley
    Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys.

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