Owners and operators of community and other types of public swimming pools soon will be able to take advantage of rebates for installing solar pool heaters under a new portion of the California Solar Initiative-Thermal Program.

In mid-August, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the additional rebates for solar pool heaters at commercial and government facilities, schools, multifamily housing and locations operated by nonprofit organizations. Swimming pools at single-family homes are not eligible for the rebate program.

Historic Lafayette Hotel installs highly efficient fuel cell

The 1940s Hollywood-era Lafayette Hotel in San Diego was the scene of a celebration and switching on of a 40- kilowatt ClearEdge Power fuel cell system on May 9. During ceremonies, CCSE Managing Director Peter Hamilton presented the hotel’s owners with $100,000 rebate check from the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP).