Occidental Power Solar & Energy Storage: In the News

Occidental Power Solar and Energy Storage featured in news stories and television before solar power became a household word.

  • PG&E rate hike protest

    Occidental Power protests CPUC policy changes

    Occidental Power staff with Monopoly mascot on front steps of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to protest PG&E rate hikes and their decision to discontinue discounted rates for solar owners feeding power back to the utility grid.

    NBC BAY AREA Groups protest PG&E rate hike in San Francisco October 2021

  • CALSSA President's Circle 2021 seal

    Proud member of the CALSSA President's Circle

    California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) promotes the widespread deployment of smart, local, clean energy technologies while supporting a wide variety of businesses that everyday build a better energy future in urban and rural communities and neighborhoods throughout the state. Occidental Power is proud to be a member.

    Visit CALSSA

  • Two people installing solar panels and inserts of panels in Castro District

    Visionary Homeowner Launched a Power Revolution

    Remembering the first net energy metering system in San Francisco.

    San Francisco Bay Times Castro Home Sparks Solar Revolution

    October 2019

  • Greg teaching independent solar process Bangalore, India

    Teaching independent solar energy processes in Bangalore

    President and GM, Greg Kennedy joins Enerplus’ Expert Club in Bangalore, India, to teach the solar energy process. The Expert Club Buzz! Our Expert Club Trainer commissions project in San Francisco

    March 2013

  • Mayor Lee Announces Full Funding for GoSolarSF Program

    Mayor Lee Announces Full Funding for GoSolarSF Program

    Mayor Ed Lee announced full funding for the GoSolarSF program. Several long-term staff came from this training program.

    California Newswire, March 2013 SF Mayor Lee Announces Full Funding for GoSolarSF Program: Two Million Dollars for Solar for Fiscal Year 2013-2014

    March 2013

  • Occidental Power featured in Cole Hardware recommendation

    San Francisco's Favorite Hardware Store Re-COLE-mends Occidental Power — Meet Greg: Our Solar Energy Expert

    Cole Hardware recommended Occidental Power as their local solar contractor. The article features Greg’s young family, now adults and all working for Occidental Power.

    July 2010

  • Greg featured in San Francisco Bizjournal

    Entrepreneur Profile: Greg Kennedy

    San Francisco Business Times profiles Occidental Power owner, founder and general manager, Greg Kennedy.

    San Francisco Business Times: Entrepreneur Profile: Greg Kennedy

    July 2007

  • Woman in front of solar panels

    Solar rises over Fog City

    Solar panels are now so efficient that fog no longer mandates remaining on the grid.

    SFGate: Solar rises over Fog City

    April 2007

  • Glissade Snowboards Becomes PGE’s 10,000th Solar Customer

    Glissade Snowboards Becomes PGE’s 10,000th Solar Customer

    Occidental Power installed the first and the 10,000th solar installations in Northern California, nine years after we installed the first net-metered solar electric system in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    glissadesnowboards: Glissade Headquarters Goes Solar

    February 2006

  • Rosebud Agency San Francisco First Music Industry Facility Convert 100% Solar Power

    The Rosebud Agency in San Francisco Is First Music Industry Facility to Convert to 100% Solar Power

    The historical Rosebud Agency led the way in pursuing environmentally responsible solutions, installing solar panels that power their offices. It was Occidental Power’s first commercial solar photovoltaic installation.

    Rosebud Agency Press Release

    December 2000

  • First solar net metering in San Francisco

    First solar net metering in San Francisco

    Occidental Power designs, builds, and figures out the permitting and regulations for the first net-metered solar installation in San Francisco, the Bay Area and one of the nation’s first of its kind. The home is located in Noe Valley, San Francisco.

    Northern California Sun magazine 1997

  • Seeing the Light

    Seeing the Light

    The front cover of the San Francisco Examiner Business section features the first net-metered solar electric installation for a home in San Francisco on Fair Oaks St. The Associate Press picked up the story and it appeared in newspapers across the country. 

    San Francisco Examiner Business section 1997

Occidental Power Talks Solar with Norway’s Television Public Broadcasting Station

Owner and General Manager of Occidental Power talks solar with Norwegian Reporter, Gro Holm and visits a San Francisco resident whose home is solar powered. The reporter also visits CEO of a company that has a field of solar installations in the California desert.

Click here for transcript

Norwegian Television Public Broadcasting Company February 2017

Three Bay Area Residents Living Off the Grid

In 2001, a look at how a few Bay Area homeowners are saving energy and money in varying ways including solar electricity. Presented on KTVU Channel 2 News with Anchor Diane Dwyer and Reporter Bob McKenzie.

KTVU 2 10 O'Clock News, February 2001

Click here for transcript

San Francisco Plans to Go Solar on All City Buildings

NBC 11 Bay Area News reporter, Sandra Stricker reports on Gretchen Cotter testifying at a public hearing on why San Francisco should go solar on all city buildings.

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NBC News Channel 11, November 2001

Land Rover vs. the Prius: Charles Gibson Takes Global Warming Discussion to SF Residents

Occidental Power's client, Peter Boyer, on World News Tonight with Charles Gibson, talking about his SunPower system

ABC World News Tonight with Charles Gibson, May 2007

Standout Outdoor and Occidental Power Partner Up to Create the First Solar-Powered Billboard in San Francisco.

Standout Outdoor and Occidental Power partner to create the first solar billboard in San Francisco.

Click here for transcript

December 2009

Prop B Allows San Francisco to Buy $100 Milliion of Renewable Energy

In 2001, ABC 7 News Reporter, Heather Ishimaru reports on Proposition B, which allows the city to issue a $100 million revenue bond to finance solar projects for city- and county-owned buildings and capture wind power elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay area.

Click here for transcript

ABC 7 News, November 2001

Public Health & Environment Committee Public Hearing Item 2: Green Initiative

Founder and General Manager of Occidental Power, Greg Kennedy testifies at a public hearing to San Francisco Supervisor Michael Yaki about why the future of San Francisco should include supporting solar thermal and introducing solar electricity.

Public Hearing May 2000

Rainbow Grocery Installs 10kW Solar Electric System

Rainbow Grocery, a worker-owned organic grocery, and Occidental Power, the leading installer of solar electric and solar thermal products in San Francisco, have teamed up to create one of the largest commercially owned solar electric systems in San Francisco.

Click here for transcript

NBC News Channel 11, January 2003

San Francisco Pushing for Solar

Homeowner and solar power advocate, Gretchen Cotter is featured in this report by Wayne Friedman of ABC 7 News.

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ABC 7 News, November 2001

Solar Program Lights Up Lives

ABC 7 News, Carolyn Tyler reports on a program supported by the agency Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates featuring two trainees who work at Occidental Power today.

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ABC 7 News, November 1994