News

June 10, 2009: Residential Solar Permit Fee Study Extended to Southern California!
Posted on June 11, 2009

In June 2009, the Sierra Club ( Loma Prieta Chapter partnering with Angeles Chapter) published a report that compares what 251 municipalities in Southern California charge for a permit to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on residential roofs. This report is based on a survey that Sierra Club volunteers conducted between 2/1/09 and 4/13/09. Municipalities in the following counties were surveyed: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The purpose of the report and related campaign is to persuade municipalities to reduce PV permit fee levels to $324 or less and issue PV permits promptly (same day is ideal).

Read the full study of residential solar permit fees charged by cities in Southern California

Read about the Chapter's other successful efforts to reduce solar permit fees


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April 27, 2009: Sierra Club Launches Campaign to Encourage Cities in Silicon Valley to Lower Solar Permit Fees for Non-residential Systems
Posted on April 27, 2009

The Sierra Club (Loma Prieta and San Francisco Bay Chapters) has initiated a campaign to encourage municipalities in Silicon Valley to facilitate the installation of large-scale solar power systems on non-residential structures by lowering permit fees. On 4/1/09, the Sierra Club formally asked municipalities with unreasonably high non-residential solar permit fees to consider lowering them to cost-recovery levels. The campaign is already showing results!

Full Press Release

See the Non-Residential Solar Permit Fee Campaign's Results (Issued: April 2009)

Read an article about the results in the Chapter's Loma Prietan newsletter

Learn more about our Chapter's continuing efforts to reduce barriers to solar power systems.

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Sept. 3, 2008: Sierra Club Releases Report on Local Government Climate Protection Policies in the Silicon Valley Region
Posted on September 03, 2008

Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter's Cool Cities Campaign
announces the release of its Cool Cities Local Government Climate Action Survey Report 2008: A Report on Climate Protection Polices and Practices in San Mateo and Santa Clara County Jurisdictions. Twenty-eight jurisdictions, representing 76% of the jurisdictions and 90% of the population of the two counties, responded to the Chapter’s 29-question online survey of climate protection policies and practices. The report provides a broad look at the state of action by local governments on the climate change challenge. The results show local governments are demonstrating a rapidly growing commitment to climate protection, but the achievement of key implementation milestones is still generally lagging.

Read the full press release.

Download the full report.


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Sierra Club Praises San Jose City Council’s Support for Mayor Reed’s Green Vision and Urges Rapid Implementation
Posted on October 30, 2007

The Sierra Club’s Loma Prieta Chapter applauds the San Jose City Council’s unanimous vote to support Mayor Chuck Reed’s bold Green Vision for San Jose. Mayor Reed’s Green Vision is precisely the kind of visionary leadership Silicon Valley, and the whole country, needs to implement smart energy solutions, stimulate new technologies, drive economic opportunity, and protect our natural resources.

“Silicon Valley is the world’s leader in technological innovation and is poised to lead in the clean technology sector. The private sector is moving quickly and the public sector must too. Mayor Reed’s plan will stimulate thousands of clean tech jobs, build needed expertise, dramatically cut greenhouse gas pollution and safeguard our children’s future,” said Sierra Club Director Rafael Reyes.

“We are thrilled by Mayor Reed’s plan. Improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable resources, and reducing waste not only cut pollution but will save the city money in the long run. These goals are ambitious yet achievable and a perfect fit for Silicon Valley’s ‘can do’ attitude and ability to innovate,” said Annie Stauffer, volunteer leader for San Jose’s Cool Cities team.


Read the press release.


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U.S. Dept. of Energy recognizes our Solar Permit Fee Campaign!
Posted on October 17, 2007


The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes the impact of the Chapter's Solar Permit Fee Study.

Starting in June 2005, the Chapter's Global Warming and Energy Committee (GWEC) undertook a study of solar permit fees charged by cities in the greater Silicon Valley region. A follow-up Solar Permit Fee Study was issued on August 13, 2007.

These studies received a great deal of press attention which drew attention to major disparities in the fees charged by different cities and led to actions by 27 cities (in Silicon Valley) to significantly reduce their fees (and a total of 55 cities in the greater Bay Area region), removing a small but important barrier to the installation of solar PV.

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San Mateo County Supervisors Sign Cool Counties Climate Declaration on Oct. 16!
Posted on October 17, 2007

The Board of Supervisors today committed San Mateo County to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and joined other concerned leaders across the United States by supporting the U.S. Cool Counties initiative that combats global warming. The Cool Counties initiative takes to the county government level the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign to have cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn about Cool Counties

Our Cool County Volunteer Team Leader for San Mateo County-- Merrill Bobele -- worked with the Board of Supervisors to have the Cool Counties declaration signed. Merrill is currently building his San Mateo Cool County Team to work for implementation of the Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration. If you would like to become part of his team, please contact us.


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Mountain View City Council voted on October 9 to sign the MCPA-- becoming the 18th signatory city in the Loma Prieta Chapter!
Posted on October 12, 2007



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Sunnyvale City Council unanimously passes MCPA, becomes 17th signatory city in Loma Prieta chapter
Posted on September 12, 2007

The MCPA was passed unanimously by the Sunnyvale City Council last night 9/11/07. Council also adopted Sustainable Silicon Valley's 20% target (from 1990 levels) for city government emissions. The GHG reduction projects (for city ops) recommended by staff made it to the budget process. Council exceeded staff's recommendation to ask that staff determine the cost of a citywide GHG audit.
Barbara, Sunnyvale Cool Cities team lead.

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Burlingame becomes 16th city to sign MCPA in Loma Prieta chapter area!
Posted on August 24, 2007

Burlingame city council voted 5-0 to endorse the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on Monday Aug 20, reports Mike Mc Cord, Burlingame Cool Cities lead who has been advocating for the city to do so since he started the team in April this year. The city Green Ribbon Task Force is now working on its Climate Action Plan, to turn Talk into Walk!

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Loma Prieta Chapter Issues New Solar Permit Fee Study for Northern California
Posted on August 15, 2007

On August 13, 2007, the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta, S.F. Bay and Redwood chapters) published a study that compares what 131 municipalities in Northern California charge for the permit to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on residential roofs. The Sierra Club is using the study as a platform to persuade cities to reduce their PV permit fees.

Click here to read the New Solar Permit Fee Study>>


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15th city in chapter to sign MCPA with Los Gatos!
Posted on June 29, 2007

On June 18, the Los Gatos City Council approved the signing the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA). Los Gatos becomes the 15th city in the Loma Prieta chapter to have signed. Congratulations to Rob and the whole Los Gatos Cool Cities team!

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Sierra Club Finds Discrepancy Between the Percentage of Local Residents In Favor of Action to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Response of Local Government
Posted on June 28, 2007

Click here to read the press release >>

Click here to read the full report >>

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Over 250 people attend Unite to Fight Global Warming rally
Posted on June 28, 2007

Webcast >>

Photos >>

San Mateo County Times article >>

San Jose Mercury News article >>

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