Rep. Matsui Announces Nearly $8 Million for California Solar Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 16, 2009

CONTACT: Mara Lee

(202) 225-7163

Rep. Matsui Announces Nearly $8 Million for California Solar Initiatives
Federal Money Will Push Sacramento Forward as Urban Model for Solar Power

Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) announced the release of $4,300,971 in federal grant funding to expand Sacramento's the use of solar energy and $3,499,828 for job-training in the solar industry throughout California. The funding for this initiative comes through the Department of Energy and was authorized by both federal appropriations and the economic recovery package Rep. Matsui supported earlier this year. The funding will bolster Sacramento based research in solar energy as well as educational programs to train Sacramentans on installing the technology.

"I am proud to announce that these projects will help lead Sacramento on the path towards both a green future, and a role as a leader amongst American cities in utilizing solar technology," Congresswoman Matsui said. "Locally owned businesses and families have made the commitment to press our Sacramento forward as a clean-tech capital. The federal government has taken notice of our initiative, and is investing in our community by bringing both innovative technology and green jobs to the region."

The award of over $4 million dollars will allow Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to continue with implementation of a Sacramento-based pilot program researching solar energy use for family homes. The project will help SMUD build a strategy for integration of energy storage in the home and allow solar power usage to be expanded throughout our community. If successful, the pilot program at Anatolia - which is home to SMUD's SolarSmart Homes - will produce data to replicate solar energy at homes across Sacramento.

"SMUD is excited about winning this award, as it enables SMUD to explore how the integration of energy storage can be used to enhance the value of distributed PV[photo voltaic] resources to SMUD's system and our customers," said Mark Rawson, Project Manager. "A key point of this project is to see how well these systems can support SMUD's andlsquo;super-peak' from 4 PM to 7 PM, particularly during the period from 5 to 7 PM when the output from PV systems tends to drop off. It also allows SMUD to demonstrate communications between the utility and energy storage located both behind the customer meter and on distribution feeders as part of SMUD's Smart Grid."

Additionally, the Department of Energy has awarded the California Community Colleges Board of Governors a grant of $3,499,828 for the administration of a California Solar Training Partnership. This partnership incorporates local community colleges, the California Energy Commission, the Labor Management Cooperative Committee (LMCC), and the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).

"I am proud that Sacramento community colleges have taken an active role in providing local men and women with the opportunity to train for jobs in this rapidly growing industry," added Rep. Matsui. "As the use of solar energy expands, it is imperative that we have a workforce to meet the industry's needs and this grant will help do that."

This funding is in addition to $2 million that the Los Rios Community College District received earlier this year for their GreenForce program. Together, these grants will serve to extend workforce training opportunities in the Sacramento region.

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