GoSolarMarin© Will Leverage
Program Success in “Power” Industry

First Coalition Project Removed Equivalent of
Emissions from 1110 Autos from Marin County Highways

San Rafael, CA - April 28, 2008 - GoSolarMarin©, a Marin County-based citizen coalition whose first project produced more than 100 new solar photovoltaic (electric) system purchases, today announced that it would take an active role in political and industry initiatives to increase the usage of alternative energy for businesses and residences.

As a result of the initial 90-day marketing program implemented by GoSolarMarin founder Lisa Max and SPG Solar of Novato, the new solar systems, when installations are completed, will represent a total of more than 300 kilowatts of solar power, the equivalent of removing 1,110 cars from the road or 210 tons of pollution. It would require 1,716 acres of new tropical rainforests to reduce an equivalent amount of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Max said that SPG Solar’s results greatly exceeded GoSolarMarin’s expectations.

”Our impact was so extensive,” she said, “that it attracted regional and national attention. A solar trade publication published in Germany cited the ‘below $8 pricing’ as a ‘breakthrough’ in the consumer market. We continue to believe that the extensive use of solar power in our area is a marketable attribute for the Marin cities and the county.”

By creating a Request for Proposal (RFP) which incorporated a discount pricing plan, GoSolarMarin attracted 10 solar companies to the bidding process. “We were able to bring the price of solar power in Marin County down to $7.94 per watt from its previous pricing of $9.32,” said Max. “This created savings of more than $4,000 for the average 3-kilowatt installation.”

In March, GoSolarMarin (www.gosolarmarin.com) co-hosted hosted a conference to introduce the “Berkeley pricing plan” to city and county officials. Under the Berkeley plan, chartered cities provide the financing to residents who want to install solar power for their homes. The conference, held at the Pickleweed Center in San Rafael, attracted nearly 100 officials from as far away as Long Beach and Davis.

Max, recently named to the Green Committee for the City of San Rafael, said the impact of “community of interest coalitions” such as GoSolarMarin has opened her eyes.

“I continue to get inquiries from communities and home owners associations from throughout the State of California and media calls from all over the country,” she said. “GoSolarMarin-type coalitions potentially can have a major impact on pricing and availability.”

Max pointed out that when GoSolarMarin announced the pricing discount of 15-20 percent that other solar providers immediately met the price in Marin County. However, she pointed out that a new program dubbed GoSolarSonoma is not affiliated with GoSolarMarin and the pricing in that program was not produced by an RFP process.

“It is extremely important for consumers and business owners to get more than one bid for an installation,” she said. “Advertising and marketing claims need to be backed up by written estimates and contracts. We’ve learned a lot a long the way and have been asked to share our knowledge which we are happy to do.”

GoSolarMarin was created in September 2007; the RFP process was completed in early November and the first installation was in place in December 2007. The initial program by a group of interested homeowners and organized by Max in September 2007. The GoSolarMarin/SPG ended Feb. 29.

GoSolarMarin started from an effort by Max to make the purchase of solar more affordable for her home and then for a group of her neighbors. 
Although the GoSolarMarin community discount program is officially over, Max said that GoSolarMarin will continue to serve as a resource for solar and renewable energy education and advocacy in Marin County.