Napa County: Gasser launches solar-funding model

<p>The Gasser Foundation and the National Development Council held a ribbon cutting Feb. 20 in Napa to celebrate and launch a new funding model for nonprofits that want to install solar. </p><p>The 122-kilowatt installation at 433 Soscol Ave. at The Gasser Foundation building is the first project of its kind for the council, which has focused on a unique approach to low-income housing finance.</p><p> For solar, the council devised a financing model to secure approximately $1.5 million for the Gasser project with the installers, Borrego Solar Systems Inc., and U.S. Bank.</p><p>“The Gasser Foundation believes we must demonstrate our tangible commitment to sustainability – and through this partnership with NDC we hope to open doors for the long-term benefit of many nonprofit organizations on which our community depends,” said Gasser Foundation President Joe Peatman.</p><p>Bringing the entities together was consultant Gopal Shanker of Recolté Energy in Calistoga.</p><p>In addition to its unusual solar-funding model, the Gasser building is one of the first multitenant buildings with a single meter. All the leases were rewritten to include utility charges.</p><p>***</p><p>Napa County is set to get $5.9 million from the federal economic stimulus bill for transportation-related projects and acquisitions.</p><p>Of that total, $3.2 million will go toward projects to cap and seal roads in American Canyon, Napa and county areas.</p><p>Those governments signed a memorandum of understanding with smaller governments in the valley to lend their allocations totaling $300,000 in exchange for funds to flow back in coming years, according to Paul Price, executive director of the Napa County Transportation Planning Agency, which coordinated the request for the federal funds.</p><p>The Vine transit system is set to get $2 million to acquire four New Flyer gasoline-electric hybrid buses and $700,000 to $800,000 for the Trancas Park & Ride.</p><p>Other stimulus money that could be headed to Napa Valley is some of the $14.6 billion Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, was instrumental in pushing for inclusion in funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers endeavors, such as the Napa flood-control project.</p><p>***</p><p>St. Helena-based Meibeyer Law Group opened a second office in Sonoma County last month just after celebrating its 20th anniversary.</p><p>The office located at 141 North St. in Healdsburg opened about two weeks ago and will offer the same wine specialty services as the Napa office, including purchase and lease agreements, succession planning, estate planning and complex business and real estate.</p><p>“We have so many clients over there already, it seemed like a perfect fit, and the community really worked with us,” said partner Chuck Meibeyer.</p><p>Both he and his partner Lynn Sletto will rotate time in the Sonoma County office, though the two are considering expanding the practice.</p><p>***</p><p>The medical group division for St. Helena Hospital Clearlake opened a new urology office last month with two specialists, including one recent out-of-state recruit.</p><p>“We noticed there was a lot of un-met need in that area, and we were really lucky to bring in a new doctor,” said Jeff Davis, spokesman for the Adventist Health-owned hospital.</p><p>The office located is at 15322 Lakeshore Drive, Ste. 102, Clearlake. It is one of several divisions operated by the California Medical Group arm of the hospital, which also includes a cardiology group, oncology, neurology, psychology, obstetrics and gynecology.</p><p>Board-certified urologists Dr. Mindy Samuelson and Dr. John Brasch are the primary providers for the new urology office.</p><p>For details, call 707-994-9771.</p><p>***</p><p>The Napa Community Foundation distributed nearly double its total amount of grants last year compared with 2007, according to a report released by the organization recently.</p><p>In a letter sent to supporters Feb. 9, foundation President Terence Milligan said the group donated about $650,000 in community impact funds targeted at “bolstering the safety net” for those in need of food, housing and emergency assistance.</p><p>The funds were designated to projects by region, including an allotment for St. Helena, Calistoga and American Canyon, as well as more general purposes, such as for arts, nonprofits, education and neighborhoods.</p><p>•••</p><p>Submit items for this column to Jeff Quackenbush at jquackenbush@busjrnl</p><p>.com, 707-521-4256; Ashley Furness at afurness@busjrnl.com, 707-521-4257; Loralee Stevens at lstevens@busjrnl.com, 707-521-4255; or fax 707-521-5292.</p>