| The ancient Romans, whose bathhouses featured | | | | solar electric power for homes and businesses. It |
| south-facing windows to capture the sun's warmth, | | | | seems to be working: over 30,000 solar installations |
| were on to a great thing. Throughout history, solar | | | | have taken place in California in the last decade. Some |
| power has been used for light and warmth -- and | | | | of the legislation currently in effect includes: |
| most recently, electricity for our growing energy needs. | | | | - California Solar Rights Act, 1978. Enacted to facilitate |
| Much as Californians would love to claim that solar | | | | and encourage solar electric power, this act requires |
| electric power started in California, early discoveries | | | | the timely processing of solar permits and prohibits any |
| about the potential for sunlight to generate electricity | | | | entity, including local governments, from restricting solar |
| took place primarily in Europe. In 1839, French | | | | access to home and business owners. |
| experimental scientist Edmund Becquerel discovered | | | | - California Net Metering Law, 2002. Governor Gray |
| the photovoltaic effect (photo = light, voltaic = energy). | | | | Davis signed legislation to allow solar and wind energy |
| Later in the same century, English electrical engineer | | | | to be sold back to the utilities by independent power |
| Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductivity of | | | | producers. |
| selenium. | | | | - Bill AB 32 / Global Warming Solutions Act, 2006. The |
| In the 20th century, Albert Einstein published two | | | | first US legislation to cap pollution and place California |
| ground-breaking papers, one on the photoelectric | | | | on a time line to reduce its emissions, Bill AB 32 |
| effect, the other (rather more famously) on relativity. | | | | requires that by 2020 the state cut its emissions to |
| By 1954, Bell Laboratories had developed the first | | | | 1990 levels, roughly a 25% reduction by |
| photovoltaic cell, made using silicon, that was capable | | | | business-as-usual estimates. Because energy needs |
| of turning light into usable energy. These solar cells | | | | are unlikely to go down, Bill AB 32 encourages |
| began to be used to power satellites in the late 50s | | | | businesses and large organizations to switch to |
| and continue to do so today. Unsurprisingly, solar | | | | renewable energy sources such as solar electricity. |
| energy was further developed during the oil crisis of | | | | - Million Solar Roofs Bill, 2006. Also known as SB 1, this |
| 1973. | | | | bill includes funds and other measures to achieve 1 |
| Because of its famously sunny climate, California has | | | | million solar power roofs in California by 2016. |
| always been an ideal place for solar experimentation, | | | | - The California Solar Initiative provides incentives for |
| to say nothing of sunblock. Its role in solar electric | | | | solar electric power installations based on both the size |
| power was established in the 1980s with two large | | | | and orientation of the solar system. Systems under 50 |
| solar developments: the first megawatt solar power | | | | kw are given incentives based on estimated |
| station and the largest solar thermal station in the | | | | performance, while larger systems are paid gradually |
| world. Its legislation has largely protected and promoted | | | | based on actual performance. |