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Exhibit A Objective: To simplify and reduce the cost of the installation of residential PV systems in new home developments in the Cities of Livermore and Pleasanton. Goals: 1. Make the process as simple as possible, 2. Maximize the benefits to the cities and new home residences, 3. Maximize the benefits to new home developers, 4. Minimize City staff involvement and budget. Existing State sponsored legislation exists to promote the installation of PV systems in new home developments in California. The New Solar Home Partnership, administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC), has a goal of placing PV on 50% of new homes in 13 years. It uses a carrot and stick approach of incentives and mandates. As a stick, it requires new home builders to offer PV as a standard option on new developments with 50 or more homes by 2011. The new homes must also have energy efficiency features. As a carrot, monetary incentives worth $400 million are also offered for smaller developments that have PV as a construction component. The cities of Livermore and Pleasanton have opportunities to boost the CEC program by using their existing programs and staff for little or no additional cost. How it works: 1. City planning and permit departments would work with developers who are PV friendly during the planning process. This does not cause additional costs for the cities, but does provide tangible cost benefits to the developer, for whom time and resources spent coordinating project approvals with local governments can be substantial. 2. Training assistance for developers could be provided in conjunction with the cities' existing Green Building Programs. 3. Press releases and other public relations support and formal recognition for solar achievements could be provided. A Solar Cities designation could be provided to developments and specific housing units that install PV systems as standard features on their homes and go beyond the minimum number of points required by the Cities' Green Building Programs. Positive public images are highly regarded by developers to boost business. Program Benefits: The new residential segment, like the Buyer's Club, benefits the Solar Cities, new home buyers, developers, and the PV industry. The cities benefit from a PV program that is easy to administer and is low or no cost because it is incorporated within existing programs. The new home buyer benefits from the advantages derived from clean, renewable solar energy. The developer benefits from reduced project costs resulting from streamlined processes and potentially higher densities and the PV industry benefits from increased business. Again, the process uses existing city programs and staff to maximum benefit. 5050 Laguna Blvd, Suite 112-324, Elk Grove, CA 95758 / 916-213-5978, 916-6847046 (fax) deosol@aol.com (email), CA Lic. #820411