Solar Santa Monica’s goal is to provide support to residents and businesses who are planning on investing in solar. There are many complex issues surrounding solar installations such as calculating return on investment, grid-interaction (net-metering), incentives, and building permits. Soon after electricity usage history is provided to a solar installer, they can design an appropriately sized system and present the return on investment assumptions. Installers also have dedicated staff to assist with the paperwork associated with tying into the grid, filing for incentives, and applying for permits with the City’s various departments. Solar Santa Monica recommends getting proposals from three reputable installers. Once you do, contact us for assistance comparing proposals (apples to apples).
Find out more about installing solar on your property by clicking the appropriate link to the left.
Net Zero Energy
Learn about the successes of Solar Santa Monica in this short film produced with the California Sustainability Alliance.
Solar Installations Throughout Santa Monica
See the Power!
Want to find out how much electricity solar installations produce? Many systems now have online-monitoring, a great way to make tangible something that we often take for granted. Santa Monica's new Big Blue Bus facility is a prime example.
The Science of Solar, Dept. of Energy
About Solar Santa Monica
Planning for Solar Santa Monica started in the Fall of 2006 when the City Council approved a long-term energy plan for the community, aimed at achieving energy independence by 2020. The plan is called the Community Energy Independence Initiative. Solar Santa Monica is the program that will help the City achieve its energy independence goals. Working with consulting firm EcoMotion, the Office of Energy and Green Building Programs established an action plan that helps residents, businesses and property owners save energy through energy efficiency upgrades, and then helps them produce energy using clean, reliable solar systems. Our goal is to help the City be energy self-sustaining by 2020.
Solar Santa Monica Annual Reports