Berkeley - Municipal Funding of Solar Projects

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Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates unveiled an innovative solar and energy efficiency financing plan on October 23, 2007 that would put thousands of solar systems on city homes and businesses. Conceived by Bates' chief of staff, Cisco DeVries, the plan makes solar more affordable by removing the chief barrier to solar investment: the large upfront cost of panels.

Under the plan, a property owner selects a city-approved solar installer who determines a right-sized system for the property. The city pays the solar installer, minus state and federal rebates, and then adds an assessment on the owner's property tax to pay for the system over the next 20 years. Berkeley officials say that the tax assessment paid by property owners should be the same or less than the money saved on their electricity bill with the solar panels.

Berkeley is considering whether to make the financing plan available for other big-ticket energy-saving measures, such as insulation and high-efficiency HVAC systems.

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