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Bright future as Berkeley, CA starts solar program

February 28, 2009 /

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Two Berkeley homeowners received checks for their new solar panels on Friday, becoming the first to flip the switch on the city’s much-ballyhooed, closely watched solar financing program.

"I’m a guinea pig, but there’s no way I could have afforded solar otherwise," said Jeanne Pimentel, an editor who has 11 solar panels on her Allston Way home. "Because of this, I can help solve our energy problem without putting any money up front."

Berkeley’s program allows property owners to pay for solar panels through a 20-year assessment on their property taxes. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. rebates and new tax breaks guaranteed in the federal stimulus package reduce the cost further, so most homeowners begin saving on electric bills immediately.

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/28/MN8T166I2J.DTL&type=green