Sunny Disposition

<p>Solar energy is surging in popularity across California, where Sonoma County is in the vanguard as homeowners and businesses increasingly tap the sun for power.</p><p>Spurred by state and federal rebates and concern over global warming, installations of solar energy systems are growing 30 to 40 percent annually across the state, according to a new study.</p><p>The Bay Area accounts for a third of all growth over the past decade. Much of that occurred in Sonoma County, which ranks second across the 10-county region in solar power megawatts added during the period, reported the Northern California Solar Energy Association, an East Bay nonprofit educational group.</p><p>"The people in Sonoma County are aware of the advantages of solar energy and are very willing to bear the expense," said Marvin Hamon, the group's vice president.</p><p>Solar energy's growth is notable because the cost for installing systems has not declined despite rising demand in parts of the United States and overseas, led by Germany and Spain, industry officials said.</p><p>"System costs haven't had time to go down yet. That's going to change and it's going to change soon," said Gary Gerber, president of the California Solar Industries Association.</p><p>The solar industry, from manufacturers to system installers, is growing as companies respond to signals that the latest wave of demand might have lasting power.</p><p>More states and nations offer financial incentives to convert to solar and lessen dependence on energy generated by fossil fuel power plants.</p><p>The typical solar system costs $35,000 in the Bay Area, but homeowners can use state rebates and federal tax credits to cut about $15,000 from the price tag. Buyers can recoup their costs in 10 to 12 years based on lower electricity bills, Hamon said.</p><p>California has provided financial incentives for property owners to convert to solar and wind power going back to 1998.</p><p>The state gets less than 1 percent of its power from solar today. But that would grow to 5 to 6 percent if the state meets its goal of adding 3,000 megawatts of solar energy -- enough power for 2.25 million homes -- under a 10-year initiative launched last year.</p><p>Solar power generation has more than doubled in California over the past decade.</p><p>"It really is a nice growth curve," Hamon said.</p><p>Sonoma County has been a leader in the Bay Area's growth, ranking among counties with far larger populations.</p><p>The county has 14.6 megawatts of solar generation, ranking second to Alameda County's 18.2 megawatts, with Santa Clara County third at 12.9 megawatts, according to the study.</p><p>Based on the number of solar systems installed, Sonoma County was third in the Bay Area, with 1,611 units, trailing Santa Clara with 2,462 and Alameda with 1,699.</p><p>Nearly 30 percent of the Bay Area's solar power went in during 2007, reflecting the industry's surging growth, according to the study.</p><p>Sonoma County added 4 megawatts, with Agilent Technologies putting up the largest system at its Santa Rosa campus.</p><p>Lowering energy costs is one aim. Reducing greenhouse gases generated by fossil-fuel power plants is another.</p><p>"Definitely, we're growing at a very fast rate, and yet the numbers are still small enough that they don't have enough impact on the climate issues. We need to maintain and even accelerate this growth," Gerber said.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Michael Coit at 521-5470 or mike.coit@pressdemocrat.com.</p>