Residents Can Defer the Cost of Installation
January 20, 2009
SOLANA BEACH —
Edging ahead of San
Diego, Solana Beach has
become the first city in
the region – and the
third statewide – to
launch a financing
program that eventually
will help homeowners and
small businesses buy
solar panels without
paying the full price
upfront.
The program will
allow residents to pay
for the “clean energy”
systems over 20 years,
with interest, through
their property tax
bills.
Solana Beach is part
of a growing number of
local governments trying
to take advantage of
Assembly Bill 811, a
state solar law passed
in July that authorizes
cities and counties to
establish the long-term
payment plans.
Berkeley and Palm
Desert have their
financing plans in
place. Officials in San
Diego, Encinitas and the
county recently
announced similar
proposals but haven't
put their projects out
to bid.
Cities will use the
financing as a tool to
help meet their targets
for reducing carbon
emissions, said Andrew
McAllister, director of
programs at the
California Center for
Sustainable Energy.
“I think this is a
game-changer as far as
getting over the initial
cost barrier for solar,”
McAllister said. “All
the cities have this on
their radar screen, and
some are further along
than others.”
Solana Beach
Councilwoman Lesa
Heebner and Councilman
David Roberts, who make
up the council's
environmental
subcommittee, spent the
past eight months
working on the solar
financing project. The
City Council voted
Wednesday to solicit
bids from consultants to
develop and manage the
program.
Heebner said Solana
Beach officials are
confident in
spearheading
environmental
initiatives, such as a
2007 decision to ban
plastic bags used for
advertising, because
“our constituents are so
environmentally aware.”
“I think that other
cities will be surprised
by the number of people
who take advantage of
this financing
opportunity,” she said.
Council members hope
to select a consultant
within a few months and
start accepting
applications from
property owners by
summer. About 3,900
homes and 1,200
businesses would be
eligible in the city of
13,500 residents.
The consultant
selected by Solana Beach
will issue long-term
bonds to be repaid by
property owners. The
city won't be liable for
the debt.
The cost of solar
panels – typically
$25,000 to $60,000 per
parcel – will be
recorded in a lien that
is transferable to a new
owner.
Use of solar power is
increasing steadily, in
part because of federal
and state tax
incentives.
Approximately 6,000
solar systems have been
installed countywide on
homes and businesses,
according to the
California Solar
Initiative, which
coordinates rebate
programs for the
systems.
In December, San
Diego Mayor Jerry
Sanders announced his
intention to offer solar
financing. Last week,
his staff began
soliciting information
from companies
interested in handling
such a program. The
funding plan will need
approval from the San
Diego City Council, and
it could be up and
running in September.
Also last month, the
county Board of
Supervisors and the
Encinitas City Council
asked their staff
members to develop
proposals for solar
financing.
Supervisor Pam
Slater-Price said the
goal is to make a
long-term payment
program available to all
property owners,
including residents of
the county's 18 cities.
The county
treasurer-tax collector,
Dan McAllister, said he
is researching the
feasibility of various
funding sources,
including bonds and
“clean energy” grants
from the new
presidential
administration. Other
considerations include
whether to extend the
program to condominiums
or limit it to
single-family homes, he
said.
“It's great to be
first, but it's also
better to be 100 percent
sure of what you're
doing,” McAllister said.
Berkeley, which
approved its program in
September, has secured
$1.5 million in bond
financing and approved
38 property owners for
loans.
Palm Desert kicked
off its program in
August with a loan from
the city's general fund.
It is selling $5 million
in bonds to continue the
project.
By Tanya Mannes
Union-Tribune Staff
Writer
#
Contact:
Rich Hessler
PV Solar Sales Training
Phone: 949-208-0221
Fax: 206-339-7961
www.PVSolarSalesTraining.com |
