Costly Solar Permits Block Sun Power (CA)

[jpak]

http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20051228_solarpermits.htm

The high cost of building permits to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system that can generate all of a home's electrical needs, is turning off home owners to perhaps the brightest idea in renewable, clean energy.

Roof-top photovoltaic technology has become more efficient as costs have dropped to less than half what they were 10 years ago. During the same period, federal and state rebates and tax incentives have grown to help make sun power even more affordable.

California gets more sunshine days than any other state except Arizona, according to the National Weather Service, but some Northern California cities are blocking home owners from the rays of solar energy by making the relatively easy-to-install home improvement more expensive with high permit fees.

"If you are in a city where permit costs are high, it is an impediment. You have to consider that (permit fee) as part of the cost," said Tom McCalmont, chief engineer at REGrid Power in San Jose, CA.

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[skids]

1. Were one to indulge in paranoid schizophrenia...

...it's almost as if the anti-renewable folks are on a mission to liberate every last carbon molecule, like fellow demons from the depths of hell. "Save the poor carbon molecules imprisoned for eons in the tar sands!"

Hey, you know that might make a great cheezy spi-fi movie plot.

[NV Whino]

2. PG&E is making it almost impossible

for people to install solar. It just infuriates me.

[msongs]

3. pg&e does not want to lose its monopoly on electricity nt

[NV Whino]

4. Yep.