Summer solstice 2010 could be a turning point for the solar energy industry as well as a seasonal transition. The summer solstice June 21, when the sun shines longer than any other day of the year, is the day a California utility holding company picked to announce a $ 100 million fund to finance residential solar power systems. The summer solstice is also being used by clean energy companies as an occasion to influence public attitudes about solar power as Congress debates climate and energy legislation.
Summer solstice a natural for solar energy
PG & E Corporation’s summer solstice announcement of a $ 100 million tax-equity fund to finance solar power systems for homes is the largest solar leasing pool yet created, the company said. The New York Times reports that the fund marks a growing interest by utilities in clean energy financing. In January, PG & E created a $ 60 million tax-equity fund for a Silicon Valley company called SolarCity that also leases residential solar power systems. Earlier this year, the president delivered a speech advocating his positions on the climate and energy bill at a clean energy company in northern California called Solyndra.
Solar energy for your home, hassle-free
The $ 100 million fund announced on the summer solstice is expected to finance solar energy systems for 3,500 homes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey. The program essentially provides free solar panels for your home. Homeowners don’t pay for the solar energy systems, which can cost more than $ 30,000. Instead they sign a deal to buy power from SunRun at a fixed rate for up to18 years. SunRun, in return, installs, owns and takes care of the solar arrays.
Public opinion on solar power
Applied Materials is a clean energy company that also chose the summer solstice to publish a survey that says two-thirds of those living in the U.S. think more solar power should be used for American energy. MarketWatch reports that three-quarters of those interviewed in the survey said more renewable energy and less foreign oil should be top priorities for the U.S.. More findings from the sample of 1,000 people interviewed for the survey include that 67 percent have no problem paying more for their electricity if it comes from renewable energy, and 49 percent said more renewable energy was worth an extra $ 5 a month.
Citations
green.blogs.nytimes.com
www.marketwatch.com
