Over 100 California Leaders Call for More Solar

Media Contacts

Bipartisan List of Solar Supporters Grows on Eve of Major PUC Decision to Further Consumer Access to Solar Power

Environment California Research & Policy Center

A growing number of state leaders are calling for the bright spot in California’s economy—solar power—to keep shining.  A bipartisan group of more than 100 elected officials from up and down the state have now endorsed Governor Brown’s goal of installing 12,000 megawatts (MW) of clean, localized power by then end of the decade as part of his “Clean Energy Jobs Plan.”
 
“Solar power continues to be warmly embraced by Californians of all walks of life,”   said Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate with Environment California. “Support for solar power, along with the market itself, continues to grow from Fresno to San Francisco and Sacramento to San Diego.”

With more rooftop solar than all but five nations in the world, the price of solar power in California has dropped 25-40% in the past five years and there are now over 3,500 solar companies employing over 25,000 people throughout the state, more than in any other state in the country.  

To date, 8 Members of Congress, 37 Members of the California State Legislature, and 57 local officials have rallied behind the call for more solar on homes, apartment buildings, businesses, farms and parking lots across the state. (Full list of endorsers below.)

To remain the country’s clean energy leader, California policy makers must act now to expand California’s solar market and to truly make solar power a mainstream energy resource. The Public Utilities Commission has what advocates consider a critical opportunity on May 24 to do just that, by approving a proposed decision that will enable more California energy consumers to participate in the state’s successful net energy metering program.

“Net metering is a proven clean energy credit program that has driven more than $10 billion in private investment in California over the last five years.” said Kinman. “This is a clear step forward for the Brown Administration in achieving his 12,000 megawatt goal.”

As of May 15, 2012, over 100 California leaders endorse the following statement:

Yes! I endorse Governor Brown’s pioneering vision to build 12,000 megawatts of clean energy – enough solar energy to cover a million solar roofs – by 2020.  By building solar on houses, apartment buildings, offices, schools and warehouses across California, we can create green jobs, reduce air pollution, and generate clean energy to power our lives.

U.S. Congress
Congressman Howard Berman – Van Nuys, LA
Congresswoman Judy Chu – Los Angeles
Congressman Bob Filner – San Diego
Congresswoman Janice Hahn – Los Angeles
Congressman Mike Honda – San Jose
Congresswoman Jackie Speier – San Mateo
Congressman Henry Waxman – Los Angeles
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey – Petaluma

California State Senate
Senator Elaine Alquist – Santa Clara
Senator Christine Kehoe – San Diego
Senator Ted W. Lieu – Torrance
Senator Alan Lowenthal – Long Beach
Senator Fran Pavley – Santa Monica
Senator Michael Rubio – Fresno
Senator Lois Wolk – Davis
Senator Leland Yee – San Francisco

California State Assembly
Assembly Member Luis A. Alejo – Salinas
Assembly Member Michael Allen – Santa Rosa
Assembly Member Tom Ammiano – San Francisco
Assembly Member Toni Atkins – San Diego
Assembly Member Jim Beall – San Jose
Assembly Member Marty Block – Lemon Grove
Assembly Member Susan Bonilla – Martinez
Assembly Member Steven Bradford – Inglewood
Assembly Member Julia Brownley – Santa Monica
Assembly Member Betsy Butler – El Segundo
Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter – Rialto
Assembly Member Roger Dickinson – Sacramento
Assembly Member Mike Eng – Monterey Park
Assembly Member Mike Feuer – Los Angeles
Assembly Member Warren Furutani – Long Beach
Assembly Member Mike Gatto – Burbank
Assembly Member Richard Gordon – Redwood City
Assembly Member Jerry Hill – San Mateo
Assembly Member Jared Huffman – San Rafael
Assembly Member Ricardo Lara – South Gate
Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal – Long Beach
Assembly Member Fiona Ma – San Francisco
Assembly Member Henry Perea – Fresno
Assembly Member Anthony Portantino – Pasadena
Assembly Member Nancy Skinner – Berkeley
Assembly Member Jose Solorio – Santa Ana
Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski – Fremont
Assembly Member Das Williams – Santa Barbara
Assembly Member Mariko Yamada – Davis

Local California Leaders
Mayor Michael O’Leary – Culver City
Mayor Tom Bates – Berkeley
Councilmember Jesse Arreguin – Berkeley
Councilmember Laurie Capitelli – Berkeley
Councilmember Darryl Moore- Berkeley
Councilmember Susan Wengraf – Berkeley
Councilmember Kriss Worthington – Berkeley
Mayor Joe Krovoza – Davis
Mayor Pro Tempore Rochelle Swanson- Davis
Councilmember Dan Wolk- Davis
Councilmember John Reed – Fairfax
Councilmember David Weinsoff – Fairfax
Councilmember Oliver Baines- Fresno
Councilmember Tony Cardenas – Los Angeles
Councilmember Eric Garcetti – Los Angeles
City Controller Wendy Greuel – Los Angeles
Councilmember Paul Krekorian – Los Angeles
Councilmember Jan Perry – Los Angeles
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky – Los Angeles County
Councilmember Shawn Marshall – Mill Valley
Vice Mayor Michael Kasperzak – Mountain View
Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan – Oakland
Councilmember Pat Kernighan – Oakland
Council President Larry Reid – Oakland
Councilmember Libby Schaaf – Oakland
Mayor Edwin Lee – San Francisco
Supervisor Malia Cohen – San Francisco
Supervisor Christina Olague – San Francisco
Supervisor Scott Wiener – San Francisco
Councilmember Steve Cohn – Sacramento
Mayor Kevin Johnson – Sacramento
Vice Mayor Bonnie Pannell – Sacramento
Councilmember Jay Schenirer – Sacramento
Mayor Jerry Sanders – San Diego
Council President Anthony Young- San Diego
Councilmember David Alvarez – San Diego
Councilmember Marti Emerald – San Diego
Councilmember Todd Gloria- San Diego
Councilmember Sherri Lightner – San Diego
Mayor Chuck Reed – San Jose
Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen – San Jose
Councilmember Xavier Campos – San Jose
Councilmember Kansen Chu – San Jose
Councilmember Rose Herrera – San Jose
Councilmember Ash Kalra – San Jose
Councilmember Sam Liccardo – San Jose
Councilmember Nancy Pyle – San Jose
Councilmember Donald Rocha – San Jose
Mayor Don Lane – Santa Cruz
Vice Mayor Hilary Bryant – Santa Cruz
Councilmember Katherine Beiers – Santa Cruz
Councilmember Ryan Coonerty – Santa Cruz
Councilmember Tony Madrigal – Santa Cruz
Councilmember David Terrazas – Santa Cruz
Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge – Riverside
Mayor Patrick Morris – San Bernardino
Vice Mayor Michael Kyes – Sebastopol

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Environment California Research & Policy Center is a statewide environmental advocacy and research organization.