The purpose of this chapter is to grant authority to the city
manager of the city of Palm Springs to establish a municipal solar
utility in the execution of the policies set forth in this chapter.
The welfare of Palm Springs residents has been jeopardized in
the past by shortages of natural gas, petroleum, propane and electric
power. The shortage of available energy supplies will continue during
the coming decade unless measures are established to conserve the
energy available for the economy and the residents of Palm Springs.
(Ord. 1168 § 1, 1982)
It is declared to be the policy of the city of Palm Springs
to encourage and promote the use of solar energy in order to prevent
or reduce an adverse impact upon the economy of Palm Springs and in
order to prevent interruption of employment of the residents of Palm
Springs in commerce and industry and in order to prevent injury to
the health and welfare of the residents of Palm Springs due to the
shortage and high cost of energy in their homes and places of work.
It is also declared to be the policy of Palm Springs to improve
the economics of solar energy use by facilitating the leasing of solar
energy devices. This policy is premised on a finding that the initial
cost of purchasing and installing a solar energy device is the primary
economic barrier to expanded solar energy use. California law currently
provides that taxpayers who lease a solar energy system from a municipal
utility or from any lessor granted a permit from a municipal solar
utility shall receive a tax credit for the first three years of operation
or until the solar tax credit allowance terminates, whichever occurs
first.
It is further declared to be the policy of Palm Springs to provide
consumer protection measures for residents who lease solar energy
systems through the municipal solar utility.
(Ord. 1168 § 1, 1982)
The city manager of the city of Palm Springs shall by its rules
and regulations establish practices and procedures designed to implement
the policies set forth in this chapter. Such practices and procedures
shall be known as the "Palm Springs municipal solar utility."
(Ord. 1168 § 1, 1982)
