Board of Supervisors to look at feasibility study for financing of AB 811

BREAKING NEWS

Monday, February 2, 2009
BY JENNA V. LOCEFF
BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF REPORTER

SONOMA COUNTY, Feb. 2, 2009 – Tomorrow the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will review a feasibility study regarding Assembly Bill 811, which allows governments to create districts to permit property owners to “finance” installation of energy-efficient and green-power systems via payments on property tax bills.

If it is approved, Sonoma County will be the first in the state to adopt the program.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Paul Kelley said, “This is a key action program to implement cost-saving energy efficiency, renewable-energy and water-conservation projects. This will help the county reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a component of reducing the impacts of climate change.”

Sonoma County has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2015. The AB 811 program will put homeowners who would not necessarily be able to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes in a position to update their homes.

“AB 811 is a powerful tool for residential and commercial property owners to access for energy-efficient improvements that provide conservation and potential savings,” said Supervisor Valerie Brown