City pairs with solar company

The city has announced its partnership with Huntington Beach-based Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group to provide discounts of $150 per kilowatt on the company’s solar panels, as leaders seek to inspire more solar energy use around the city in the coming years.

The discounts will go up to 10 kilowatts, with the average home requiring about a three- to four-kilowatt system. Hence, customers will receive a $600 rebate on a four-kilowatt system. Residents can also take advantage of the city’s fee-waiver program for free permits for the installation.

The discount constitutes the new Huntington Beach Hometown Solar Rebate, in which Mayor Keith Bohr and other city leaders have collaborated with higher-ups in Sharp. The program is part of the city’s efforts to go green. Bohr hopes to see 100 residential rooftops, his home included, sporting solar paneling by 2010, and 1,000 residential rooftops by 2012. The initial goal of 100 systems was chosen in part to celebrate the city’s centennial anniversary.

“The beauty of solar is the sun usually shines every day,” Bohr said. “And we happen to have one of the largest solar producers in the world, if not the largest, right here in Huntington Beach.”

The city and Sharp have estimated that an average residential system would cost about $24,000. However, with rebates from the federal and state governments, the city and Sharp, the actual cost would be closer to $14,000, Bohr said. For residents who currently pay $100 a month in electric bills, it would take about 12 years to “break even” before actually saving money, Bohr said. For those with a current electric bill closer to $200 a month, the break-even point would be closer to seven years.

By 2012, Bohr hopes to see a total of 8.5 megawatts of solar energy throughout Huntington Beach — including two megawatts of commercial rooftops, four megawatts of residential rooftops and 2.5 megawatts of municipal rooftops.

Bohr said future solar paneling in the city will include the library, senior center and portions of the civic center.

He added that the rebate program, which he has been considering for three years, is a crucial step in the city’s attempt to use resources more wisely from the government to the residential level.

“Solar is very unique in that it makes solar modules turn sunlight into electricity without any parts, any noise, hardly any maintenance,” said Ron Kenedi, Sharp’s vice president. “It’s pretty hard to beat in terms of environmental benefits.”

Since 2007, a total of 47 residential systems have been installed in Huntington Beach, with an average home requiring 16 to 20 panels, according to Kenedi. The city’s Planning Department is allowing solar panels to extend an additional 10 inches above the predetermined height limit for homes.

While residents still have to pay an energy bill, as the panels only cover up to about 75% of a typical family’s energy needs, the bill is very small in comparison, Kenedi said.

Sharp, a leader in solar technology, has been researching and developing solar energy for 50 years. Sharp claimed the No. 1 spot for solar sales in 2004.

“We’re very dedicated to our hometowns, wherever we locate our businesses,” he added.

Kenedi expressed his affection for the city of Huntington Beach, saying he “jumped on” the opportunity to move there for the business.

“The people of Huntington Beach are very aware of their environment, and they spend a lot of time outdoors, and they appreciate clean air and they appreciate clean water,” he said.

Before calling Sharp, residents can calculate the approximate cost of installing a system on their rooftops, as well as how much they would save on electric bills, by visiting sharpusa.cleanpowerestimator.com/default.aspx.