Currently, residential electric utility customers can participate in the state’s solar program, known as the California Solar Initiative (CSI), and receive subsidies for the installation of photovoltaic panels to produce solar power.

Residents may also participate in “net-energy metering,” a program that allows electrical customers to receive credits for the amount of solar power they produce against their electric bills; however, any solar power they produce beyond their use is returned to their respective utility providers for free.

“At a time when the state has enacted landmark legislation aimed at significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and requiring 33 percent of our energy to be provided by renewable energy, we also need to encourage as many clean-power producers as possible to put this power on the electrical grid,” Wiggins said in introducing her legislation, Senate Bill 7.

SB 7 would not only allow residential utility customers to continue to receive credits for the solar power produced for their own use, it would also allow them to contribute even more solar-based power to the electrical grid.

Any power produced beyond a customer’s own use would be compensated (either by credit or payment) at the same rate a utility provider would pay for power from any other source, referred to as the “Market Price Referents.”

“My bill offers a fair and reasonable path to increased production of solar power, and it constitutes a win-win-win for solar power producers, utility providers and our environment,” Wiggins said.

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LOWER LAKE – The Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee is once again presenting its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House.

The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

There will be an old-fashioned sing-a-long around the player piano, refreshments and merriment.

The Bachelor Valley Gourd Club’s Show and Sale will be upstairs in the Weaver Auditorium. Admission is free.

The museum is located at 16435 Main St. in Lower Lake.

For more information please call 995-3565 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Gregg Dinderman of www.skyandtelescope.com.

LAKE COUNTY – Star gazers, take note – a beautiful and fascinating show of the planets is currently on display in the night sky.

Beginning on Thursday night, Jupiter and Venus will line up in the southwest sky, and will continue to do so through Sunday as part of a nightly dinner date.

By about 5:15 p.m. it's dark enough to see the two planets; look about halfway up in the southwestern sky in the early evening. They will set together in the west at about 7:45 p.m.

The king and queen of the planets will be closest on the night of Sunday, Nov. 30; the following night, Dec. 1, they will joined by a nearly four-day-old moon that will be accompanied by earthshine, or a reflection of the sun off the earth and onto the moon.

Over the following nights Jupiter and Venus will begin moving out of their alignment.

The year 2011 will reportedly be the next time such a display will be seen in the sky. The last time it was seen worldwide was last February.

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The meeting will take place at Loconoma Valley High School on Washington Street.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Agenda items include and amendment to the MATH bylaws, which include staggered terms of office, and amending the group's bylaws to provide for alternate board members.

MATH is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley – including Hidden Valley Lake – Long Valley and Middletown.

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Noah the Dachshund went missing from his home in Nice on Friday morning. Courtesy photo.

NICE – A family is looking for its lost Dachshund.

The dog, named Noah, is a 10-month-old, long-haired Dachshund with dapple markings.

His owners, Chris and Debi Lundy of Nice, report Noah is a new addition to their home, and underwent surgery on Wednesday night. He needs medication and it's urgent that he be reunited with his family.

Noah was last seen Friday morning at his family's apartment on Collier Avenue, and around the Nice area. He has tags and is micro-chipped.

If you have seen Noah or have information about him, please call the Lundy family at 274-1343.

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The Lakeport Main Street Association, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce and city of Lakeport are sponsoring the annual holiday decorations contest.

First and second prizes will be awarded for the best business decorations and best residential decorations. This is an opportunity to shine in your neighborhood or have your storefront windows invite holiday shoppers.

Applications may be picked up at the offices of the city of Lakeport at 225 Park St., Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 875 Lakeport Blvd., or the Lakeport Main Street Association, 200 Park Street (Carnegie Library building).

The form may also be downloaded from the city’s Web site at www.cityoflakeport.com.

Applications need to be returned to the city of Lakeport or Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Judges will tour the neighborhoods and businesses on Dec. 12 to review the properties that have been nominated or are evidence. Prizes will be awarded at the Lakeport City Council meeting of Dec. 16.

The first prize for each category will be $300, and the second prize will be $100.

For more information, please contact the city of Lakeport at 263-5615, Extension 12; the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 263-5092; or the Lakeport Main Street Association at 263-8843.

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