May 27, 2008 8:08 pm US/Pacific
SF Lawmaker Wants To Lower Cost Of Solar Power
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) ―
California residents may soon benefit from lower-cost solar power, according to state Assemblyman Mark Leno.
Leno, D-San Francisco, has authored a law designed to offer solar power to property owners and tenants at prices currently reserved for businesses, through power purchase agreements.
AB 2863, sponsored by the Solar Alliance, a coalition of solar manufacturers and financiers, passed the state Assembly today by a 76-0 vote and now heads to the state Senate for consideration, according to Leno's office.
Leno said the power purchase agreements would "deliver clean, renewable solar power at a price that is lower than the electric utility" to residents that "have largely been left out of this innovative solar financing mechanism."
The agreements, whereby a company would own, install and maintain the solar installations, have been responsible for more than 70 percent of commercial solar installations in California, according to Leno's office.
Solar Alliance Director of Western Policy Sara Birmingham called power purchase agreements "an innovative financing mechanism that have been immensely successful in the California commercial sector."
AB 2863 adds residential consumer protections to state law that would benefit both consumers and investors, Leno said.
Birmingham said the legislation would speed the installation of solar power systems throughout the state.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
Environment & The Green Beat
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