San Frans Solar Incentive Program, A Go!

San Francisco’s board of supervisors has finally approved the Solar Energy Incentive Program making San Fran the country’s largest municipal solar program. The program has been a go for 10 years with an annual budget of $3 million dollars. The money will be allotted as rebates in the form of tax incentives for private solar installations. The project enactment still needs approval from Mayor Newsom, who has been supporting this program. It’s expected that the solar energy incentive program will be in effect in the coming weeks.

The agenda is designed to lessen the cost of solar initiatives for city residents and influence private dollars to get more solar on San Franciscans’ roofs. Local solar installers, including Sun Run, Akeena Solar and SolarCity, all showed up throughout the long six-month proceedings to express their approval of the program, explaining it would provide jobs and clean power for the foggy city.

The program grants a $3,000 to $6,000 rebate to individuals and a $10,000 rebate to businesses on solar installations. The board also passed a introductory program of $1.5 million, (one year trial program), aimed specifically at helping low-income San Franciscans and nonprofits. This submission still needs to be approved on a final read by the board, but may mean San Fran will be paying $4.5 million for solar roofs by the end of the year. Way to go San Fran!