[SustainableTompkins] Berkley pays for solar installations

[Stephen Nicholson]

 Berkeley going solar - city pays up front, recoups over 20 years

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer <carolynjones at sfchronicle.com>

Friday, October 26, 2007

Read complete article at:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/26/MNAIT0DQO.DTL

Berkeley is set to become the first city in the nation to help thousands of
its residents generate solar power without having to put money up front -
attempting to surmount one of the biggest hurdles for people who don't have
enough cash to go green.

The City Council will vote Nov. 6 on a plan for the city to finance the cost
of solar panels for property owners who agree to pay it back with a 20-year
assessment on their property. Over two decades, the taxes would be the same
or less than what property owners would save on their electric bills,
officials say.
 property owner would hire a city-approved solar installer, who would
determine the best solar system for the property, depending on energy use.
Most residential solar panel systems in the city cost from $15,000 to
$20,000.

The city would pay the contractor for the system and its installation, minus
any applicable state and federal rebates, and would add an assessment to the
property owner's tax bill to pay for the system.

The extra tax would include administrative fees and interest, which would be
lower than what the property owner could obtain on his own, because the city
would secure low-interest bonds and loans, officials say. The tax would stay
with the property even if the owner sold, although the owner would have to
leave the solar panels.

The property owner would save money on monthly Pacific Gas & Electric bill
because electricity generated by the solar panels would partly replace
electricity delivered by the utility. After the assessment expired, the
solar panels - of a simple technology that requires little or no maintenance
- would continue to partly replace PG&E electricity.

-- 
Stephen C. Nicholson
220 Yaple Rd.
Berkshire, NY 13736
607-539-6923
scnfish at gmail.com