The California Solar Energy Industry Association, an organization that advocates on behalf of solar power in the Golden State, has announced the appointment of Bernadette Del Chiaro as the new executive director of the group. Del Chiaro has been involved in the communications and policy areas of the renewable energy industry for over a decade. She was formerly the Director of Clean Energy and Global Warming Programs at Environment California, an environmental advocacy nonprofit, and worked on virtually all renewables legislation that has been passed in California.

Among the bills she was involved in drafting and promoting are the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (SB 1), California Solar Initiative, the Solar Water Heating Initiative (AB 1470), and the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) that have been enacted to spur utilities to adopt more renewable energy as part of their generation portfolios.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bernadette to CALSEIA,” Rick Reed, CALSEIA’s chairman, said in a news release. “Her extensive experience in renewable energy makes her a perfect fit. California is the top market for solar energy in the country, and CALSEIA’s ongoing involvement with legislative and regulatory proceedings will benefit significantly from Bernadette’s long-term engagement in these areas.”

Del Chiaro’s appointment comes at a very important time in California’s solar future, as the state is nearing the end of the California Solar Initiative and needs a plan in place that would extend the benefits and incentives of that program.

You can still take advantage of the many state and federal tax breaks and incentives if you adopt California solar energy today. Contact West Coast Solar for more information on how you can benefit from going solar.