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bk:4/29/08 <br />RESOLUTION NO. 2008-XXX <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF <br />SANTA ANA AUTHORIZING A TWO-YEAR PILOT <br />PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS BY <br />TEMPORARILY WAIVING PERMITTING FEES <br />BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS <br />FOLLOWS: <br />Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines <br />and declares as follows: <br />A. The City Council Development Committee recently discussed efforts to <br />broaden the City's environmental agenda including, for instance, <br />supporting the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) <br />program sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Under such a <br />program, Congress would annually appropriate both competitive and <br />direct formula-based funding for local energy and conservation projects. <br />B. Though ultimately interested in a more comprehensive approach to <br />environmental and energy issues, the Development Committee at its <br />February 7, 2008, meeting recommended that the City Council consider a <br />pilot program to encourage installation of solar technologies in Santa Ana. <br />The opportunities to encourage these technologies are immediate -and <br />they are another step toward creating a more sustainable community. <br />C. The two primary uses of solar energy include using the sun to heat water <br />or to generate electricity. Both rely on widely tested and proven <br />technologies. But their application has in the past been limited in that the <br />initial acquisition/construction costs have been relatively high in <br />comparison to potential cost savings. That dynamic continues to shift, <br />however, given the ever increasing cost of energy as well as the <br />heightened awareness of environmental concerns, climate change and the <br />need to conserve energy. Additionally, advances in solar energy <br />manufacturing technologies, as well as expanded markets for solar energy <br />products, are continuing to improve the cost benefit equation. <br />D. The City has processed relatively few solar energy projects in recent years <br />- less than ten (10) per year. Though the number of solar projects <br />undertaken over the next two years is difficult to predict, it is expected to <br />grow. <br />E. The City's review of solar energy projects involves both plan check and <br />inspection services. These plan check and inspection services are <br />55A-4 Resolution No. 2007-XXX <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />