City’s going for the green

**CORRECTION: The name of the energy company working with city staffs was incorrect. Southern California Edison is responsible for organizing the cities. **

Costa Mesa residents may be more inclined to install solar panels, as a multi-city task force to promote green standards and energy efficiency continues talks with energy company Con Edison.

Costa Mesa, Westminster, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley submitted an application to begin jointly developing green alternatives with the help of the energy company, with the aim of receiving some incentives and rate reductions that may accompany their efforts.

The cities are working jointly with the energy company to both bounce ideas off of one another, and to assist with Con Edison’s $9 billion plan to improve their infrastructure.

“This is a way for us to continue to develop a close relationship with our cities, and help them where we can, as well as helping us plan for our future improvements and infrastructures,” Con Edison spokesman Jerry Dominguez said.

Costa Mesa Assistant City Manager Tom Hatch said the agreement was still extremely preliminary, but remained confident that the effort would help the city pursue its green initiatives.

Hatch is part of the Costa Mesa “Green Team,” a group of staffers acting on behalf of the city council’s request to examine ways to save energy in city buildings, residences, and businesses.

Most visibly, the city has offered fee waivers for those adding green technology, such as solar panels, to their home, but Hatch hopes that the incentive program will allow the city to collaborate and go above and beyond conventional approaches. For example, Hatch added that a plan to promote solar energy in the city would be finalized and publicized in coming weeks.

Beyond the ecological benefits, Hatch said, he believed the average Costa Mesa residents could receive some tangible benefits in their wallets, as well.

“With this program, you’re really able to do any kind of energy-efficiency program — you just have to demonstrate it works and implement it,” he said. “We’re at the beginning stages, but some of these incentives will directly affect residents.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].