SOLAR ENERGY PENETRATES FRISCO FOG

Like the program developed across the Bay (see BERZERKELEY TO FINANCE SOLAR), this breakthrough concept solves the biggest problem preventing widespread adoption of small solar energy – the big upfront costs. In these programs, the city tells its citizens they don’t have to figure out a way to pay for keeping their lights on 10 years in advance. The city will put up the money. The citizen repays through property tax assessments.

A typical San Franciscan installs a 3-kilowatt, rooftop solar electric system: $24,000. Add a $4,000 city rebate plus a $7,000 state rebate plus a $2,000 federal tax credit. Total cost: $11,000, which will be underwritten through an SF-backed loan. The increase in property taxes will match the decrease in utility bills. Pay-off is 10 years or less.

Officials tout ambitious plan for solar energy in San Francisco
Lisa Leff, December 11, 2007 (Fresno Bee)

WHO
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome

The city has an impressive online locator that identifies and displays solar arrays. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The City by the Bay announced a new program to promote business and residential solar installations by providing rebates and loan guarantees.

WHEN
The new program was announced December 11. The loan program must be approved by voters through a ballot initiative. The rebate program must be approved by the city’s Board of Supervisors. Mayor Newsome intends to have everything in place by Summer 2008.

WHERE
- Across the Golden gate Bridge, Marin County gives residences $500 rebates.
- Across the Bay Bridge, Berkeley has just begun developing a breakthrough concept to fund residential installations through property tax assessments. (See BERKELEY BREAKTHROUGH SOLAR FINANCE PLAN PASSES)

WHY
- In the San Frnacisco plan, businesses can get rebates of up to $10,000. Residences are elegible for rebates of $3,000 to $5,000. Variations depend on the use of a local contractor and the pollution level of the neighborhood.
- Property owners apply for the rebates but they are paid to the installers when the job is completed.
- Loans will be underwritten by the city and repaid through yearly property tax assessments.
- States and utility companies have rebates and financing incentives but this San Francisco program, like Berkeley’s, couples rebates, refunds and loans to eliminate the thousands of dollars upfront costs that discourage solar installations.
- San Francisco has 660 solar installations. Newsome hopes to have 10,000 over the next decade.

There's a reason they call it the GOLDEN Gate. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
SF Mayor Newsom: "There is a perception, a myth in our city, that because of our climate we are not ideally situated for solar…The reality is the climate in the Bay Area, the climate in San Francisco specifically, is ideally situated for solar."
Monique Hanis, spokeswoman, Solar Energy Industries Association: "As far as we know, this is probably the most sweeping program seen on a municipal level and even compared to some on the state level…"