MEDIA CONTACT:

Alison Healy

(707) 664-6488

alison@solarsonomacounty.org

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ABOUT US | Press Kit

Fact Sheet

Mission

To lead our community to install new solar capacity and improve energy efficiency.

Overview

Founded in 2002, Solar Sonoma County is a consortium of local businesses, elected officials, city governments and individuals who are dedicated to reducing greenhouse gases through the installation of solar and energy efficiency applications. SSC is an organization that supports solar energy efficiency-related policy issues, educates and trains community members in the field, advocates for rapidly growing industry, and acts as a clearinghouse for clean energy activity in Sonoma County.

 

SSC is part of an unprecedented countrywide solar and environmental effort that has captured the attention of President Obama and the Department of Energy, who often refer to Sonoma County as a national model for cutting-edge programs.

Staff

Alison Healy, Sandy Lipitz, Brian Yuen, Erin Lannon

Board of Directors

Barry Cogbill (Pathways Energy Consultants), John Haig (County of Sonoma), Cordel Stillman (Sonoma County Water Agency), Chris Warner (ZFA Structural Engineers), Tim Holmes (Kenwood Energy), Jeff Mathias (Synergy Solar & Electric), Peter Renfro


501c3 nonprofit educational organizational program


Employer Identification Number (EIN): 30-0508907


Founding Sponsors: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 551), PG&E (Santa Rosa), Solar Sebastapol, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Department of Energy (DOE), Solar America Cities


Headquarters: 1300 Valley House Drive North, Suite #100-5, Rohnert Park, CA 94928


Contact Information:

Mail to:

Solar Sonoma County

1300 Valley House Drive North, #100-5

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Phone: (707) 664-6488

Fax: (707) 794-0440

History

Originally established in 2002 as Solar Sebastopol, Solar Sonoma County was founded by Lori Houston and Marty Roberts with a grant from the U.S. Department of energy, in partnership with the City of Santa Rosa. The program has garnered national and international media attention as one of 25 Solar America Cities, and the only countywide program.

 

In March 2008, the City of Santa Rosa, on behalf of Solar Sonoma County, won a prestigious U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant to form Solar Sonoma County and create a countywide solar implementation plan.

 

In March 2011, the City of Santa Rosa and Solar Sonoma County received the Steel on the Roof award for having facilitated the installation of 42 megawatts of solar PV throughout Sonoma County; more than any other county participating in the Solar America Cities program. The City was also honored with a Certificate of Recognition from U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu for advancing the city's solar market and setting the example for the rest of the nation on how to mainstream solar energy through local action.

 

Working together with local governments, businesses, solar vendors, energy efficiency professionals, nonprofits, and individuals, Solar Sonoma County is working collaboratively to advance Sonoma County’s transition to clean, renewable energy. Solar Sonoma County’s goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to meet and even exceed countywide targets for climate protection, which ultimately will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Accomplishments

  • Received Department of Energy Steel on the Roof Award in 2011 for helping facilitate the installation of 42 megawatts of solar PV in Sonoma County – more than any other county participating in the Solar America Cities program.
  • Established county-wide solar permit submittal package
  • Developed Quality Assurance Program for vetting solar contractors.
  • Hosted Solar Leader’s Circle events in 2010 and 2011.
  • Countywide Solar Implementation Plan: Working to streamline and standardize solar policies for all local governments.
  • Public Installations: Assisting local governments with solar PV and thermal power installations at public facilities.
  • Promoting efficiency and conservation by bundling with solar initiatives.
  • Aggregating public outreach, education, and marketing for solar energy.
  • Establishing innovative financing and incentives to make solar more easily adopted.
  • Awarded Special Recognition from Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in November 2010 for Solar Sonoma County’s leadership in sustainability collaborative initiative.

Solar Sonoma County focuses on four principle program areas:

  • Clean Energy Workforce: Our programs include developing scholarships, training and mentoring a clean energy workforce, facilitating vendor groups, supporting industry standards, and developing quality assurance.
  • Clean Energy Advocate (CEA): Sponsored by the Department of Energy, The CEA provides an independent, unbiased advocate to assist residential and commercial property owners in evaluating the feasibility of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water-use efficiency upgrades and navigating through the bid, financing, and project process. Free to the public, this service has been created to demystify the process to facilitate the adoption of solar.
  • Community Resource: SSC serves as a clearinghouse for who’s who and who’s doing what with clean energy in Sonoma County. We offer a calendar of events, green job postings, aggregated RSS green news feeds, case studies, and Quality Assurance Program of vetted solar and energy efficiency vendors.
  • Advocacy: SSC has grown into a powerful local organization with a constituency of elected officials and local government staff, clean energy vendors, and other key stakeholders who allow us to quickly locate support for and to act on policy issues that will affect the future of clean energy in Sonoma County.