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Written by: Editor

Published: 14 February 2008

Created: 14 February 2008

Last Updated: 14 February 2008

SACRAMENTO – During a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee, Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) called on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to “promote and seriously consider” solar subsidies and incentives for apartments, multi-unit dwellings and buildings.

Wiggins, who serves on the committee, said that they could be offered under the CPUC’s directive to include solar subsidies and rebates for low-income housing pursuant to the California Solar Initiative.

According to the CPUC’s energy division director, Sean Gallagher, the commission was still in the process of formulating its “Low-Income Incentive Program,” and that a decision regarding subsidies for owners and/or tenants of apartments or multi-unit buildings had yet to be made.

Senator Wiggins may introduce a bill on the issue given that solar PV installations for buildings must be connected to one meter as a matter of state policy. However, state policy also requires that individual units be separately metered for electricity and other utilities.

Under these provisions, a building owner would have to either foot the bill to purchase inverters for each tenant’s individual electric meter to covert solar to electricity, charge each tenant for the inverter, or figure out a way to sub-meter tenants in order to participate in the CSI program. These options are either cost-prohibitive or seemingly illegal.

“These types of barriers inhibit a major portion of the market from participating in the state’s solar program, or CSI, where consumers can receive rebates as an incentive to install solar PV panels and contribute energy to the power-grid during peak energy demand periods,” Wiggins said.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 08 February 2008

Created: 08 February 2008

Last Updated: 08 February 2008

 

MIDDLETOWN – The Backyard Garden Oasis Bed and Breakfast has received a Three Diamond rating from AAA.

This prestigious rating was offered by AAA after the bed and breakfast had been in business and provided a beautiful, peaceful environment and excellent service to thousands of visitors to the Middletown and Lake County area over the past 10 years.

Greta Zeit, the owner of Backyard Garden Oasis Bed and Breakfast, built the cottages and the business itself on a sweet, creekside property on Hilderbrand Drive.

 

 

 

 

She trained in massage at the School of Shiatsu and Massage at Harbin Hot Springs, and has been providing massage services at the Oasis for the past six years.

Reservations at the Oasis or appointments for massage can be made by calling 987-0505 or by visiting the Web site at www.backyardgardenoasis.com.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 07 February 2008

Created: 07 February 2008

Last Updated: 07 February 2008

SACRAMENTO – The chair of the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry on Monday introduced a resolution to put the state Legislature on record as opposing a pair of rule changes recently proposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

The proposed changes involve the establishment of the Calistoga Viticultural Area as well as a revision to American Viticultural Area Regulations.

Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), who represents the premium wine-growing regions of Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties, said that "the proposed TTB regulations will allow deceptive and dishonest wine labels. Consumer protection could be eroded, while the integrity of the wine industry could be challenged."

Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine, is principal co-author of the Wiggins measure, Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 22.

"We must protect consumer confidence in wine labels," said Evans. "California has fought hard to have labels that tell consumers exactly what they get in the bottle. Any muddying of these waters is of great harm to our wine industry."

SJR 22 calls on the TTB to withdraw Notices of Proposed Rulemaking Numbers 77 and 78, saying that they pose a threat not only to California’s wine industry, but to all American wine producers and their ability to trade fairly domestically and internationally.

SJR 22 has been scheduled for hearing by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the State Capitol.

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