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Two bills seek to expand the use of solar power in California, while the third would protect residents of rural areas from dramatic increases in their telephone rates. All three measures were approved by votes of 9-0.
SB 1149 continues funding for a grant program that provides residential telephone services and cellular coverage to people who are considered to be low-income and/or live in rural areas where no telephone services are currently offered.
SB 1460 requires the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to create a program to provide incentives/rebates to apartment building owners and their tenants to participate in energy efficiency improvements and the California Solar Initiative (CSI).
Wiggins said that the purpose of SB 1460 is to “encourage the use of solar power in apartment buildings where solar power opportunities have been largely excluded, in spite of the fact that all ratepayers – including landlords and tenants – pay to fund the state’s solar incentive programs.”
According to Wiggins, 43 percent of the state’s housing units are rentals, which means that many Californians are unable to benefit from programs supporting energy efficiency and solar energy. Owners of apartments currently have little financial incentive to implement cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and solar energy projects because of the expensive upfront costs, and because it primarily serves to benefit tenants.
“This has been a longstanding problem that predates the state’s solar energy programs and began when the state began implementing energy efficiency programs,” Wiggins said. “If all ratepayers fund these types of programs, they should be allowed to benefit from these programs.”
SB 1512 allows wineries and other business owners to have their solar PV systems installed to offset all the electrical use on their property rather than just the electrical load of one meter. Many wineries and farms have more than one meter on their property; unfortunately, the CSI program prohibits the solar rebate from being utilized on more than one meter unless the property owner applies for a rebate on each meter which is expensive.
Wiggins said that “SB 1512 seeks to provide solutions to the many hoops that solar customers are forced to jump through unnecessarily, simply because the rules for solar rebates require it.” According to Wiggins, “wineries in my district were restricted from selecting a meter on their property which would have given them better solar access, with less barriers, and for a lot less money.” She added that “the current CSI and net metering statutes need to be revisited and adjusted to encourage more businesses to install solar systems.”
SB 1512 would allow a business owner to choose which meter on his or her property is the most centrally-located and cost-effective to route all the lines to in order to participate in the CSI and net energy metering programs.
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The property includes approximately 240 acres of vineyards, two small cottages and an old walnut dehydrator structure, which will be converted into a tasting room, wine shop and gourmet deli.
Clay Shannon of Shannon Ridge acquired the Rolling Knolls vineyard from the Greer family of Fremont, who owned the property since 1992. The vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc, which Shannon will farm and plans to sell to selected wineries.
The Shannon Ridge wine brand is quickly expanding and increasing its production and fruit from the Rolling Knolls vineyard will be sourced for future vintages of the Shannon Ridge wines. The property backs up to the Anderson Marsh wetlands and park, which is public land owned by the state of California and accessible to visitors.
Additionally, Shannon Ridge has plans to develop the property into a mixed use facility for visitors to Lake County. The winery is working with St. Helena-based architect Carlo Di Fede with Triad Design Studio on plans for an old-world style community to include a rustic tasting room, picnic facilities and dining patios, private guest cottages, a stone chapel, recreational grounds, hiking tails, and public restrooms.
The area will be a destination location that will offer wine tasting, relaxation, beautiful views, and public services. Also, Shannon is working with the planning commission to develop plans for a new winery on the property.
Clay Shannon’s vision for the development project is based on the European communal vineyard concept, similar to those found in Burgundy and Piedmont. Once the development project is complete, the vineyards will be separated by unique rock walls and meandering paths throughout the property.
“I want to create an old-world experience in wine country, just two and a half hours north of the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Shannon. “This will be a destination location for wine aficionados, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and nature lovers. My goal is to preserve that land while offering visitors a unique experience in Lake County.”
In June 2007, Shannon Ridge Winery opened its renovated tasting room facility in a historic one room school house in on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. Adjacent to the tasting room, the winery also completed the construction of a demonstration “vinegarden” and picnic table, which allows visitors to relax in a park-like setting while enjoying the Shannon Ridge wines.
For more information, please visit www.shannonridge.com or call 998-9656.
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Before the month of April comes to a close, Ting's Thai Kitchen should be a WiFi hot spot. There are already coffee shops and restaurants offering WiFi in some fashion – either free or fee-based – in Lake County. But Ting's is going to offer something truly remarkable. It is going to offer splash page advertising in addition to FREE Internet access.
This is actually a win/win scenario for both the restaurant and its advertisers. Both benefit from this promotional innovation. Ting's will likely get a significant boost in customer traffic. Why? Because the public really does need and want free WiFi. They need it to check email, surf the Web and make VOIP phone and video calls.
Meanwhile, Ting's advertisers benefit because WiFi splash page advertising "never sleeps." It is ongoing 24/7. Keep in mind that the standard WiFi signal range is 300 linear feet and walls do not stop the signal. Therefore, the WiFi signal may be picked up outside in the parking lot and in the the tenant offices adjacent to the restaurant. People who have Internet access at home around the world will also be able to view the content of Ting's splash page as it will be duplicated online for their benefit. However, only those within 300 linear feet of Ting's wireless router will be able to benefit from the actual WiFi.
Thanks to the way WiFi works, Ting's is not limited to just helping local advertisers or having local advertisers help them. Their advertisers can be local, national or even international. Folks who come this restaurant to get a great meal are going to see firsthand by using any remote online device that Ting's is not only reaching out to the world, but that the world is reaching back.
All of the candidates running for the District 1 supervisor position have indicated an interest in Ting's innovation advertising promotion utilizing WiFi. Once you are inside the restaurant and go online, don't be the least bit surprised if you able to access an endorsement for the restaurant from your favorite District 1 supervisor candidate plus an explanation as to why he (or she) deserves your vote. But, that is not all you might learn. You might see a clever Youtube video about how Google Docs can benefit your business or how Jott can help you maximize your time on the phone – even while traveling in your car.
Each advertiser is being asked to provide a picture, audio message and web site address to be included in this initial introduction of WiFi splash page advertising to Lake County. Keep in mind that WiFi is best-suited wherever large groups of people congregate on a regular basis. That is why a restaurant like Ting's Thai Kitchen is such a good choice.
To get an idea as to what an Wi-Fi hot spot splash page is really like before Ting's debuts its creation, visit the online lens for Ting's Thai Kitchen. Simply click here .
If you know of a location that would be ideal as a WiFi hot spot or desire to have your business become a WiFi splash page advertiser, please contact Lamar Morgan of CDMM at 707-709-8605.
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Assembly Bill 1952 repairs an imbalance that for decades has existed between cities and counties, in which each follows a different set of rules for waiving business license fees for veterans.
“One small change will help end confusion with the business license fee waivers for veterans,” said Berg, D-Eureka. “Veterans don’t deserve the run-around when it comes to their benefits.”
Cities and counties use two different laws to waive business license fees for veterans. Under current law, cities only waive business license fees for honorably discharged disabled veterans and counties waive business license fees for all honorably discharged veterans.
“We have a quirk between the two existing laws,” said Berg. “Let’s make this a clear process for veterans.”
The North Coast Journal detailed one veteran’s plight to obtain a city business license waiver and the confusion that ensued because a flaw in the law.
The bill now goes to the Assembly Veteran Affairs Committee.
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