Largest City Solar Initiative gets greenlight in San Francisco

San Francisco has made solar energy a top priority with the passage of the Solar Energy Initiative Program - the largest solar energy subsidy program of any city in the United States. An annual budget of $3 million dollars will help create incentives for individuals and businesses to install solar photovoltaics systems with a $3,000 to $6,000 rebate available to individuals and a $10,000 rebate for businesses. On par with statewide programs, San Francisco’s Solar Energy Initiative Program is poised to make solar installations permanent fixtures in the city’s more sustainable skylineThe program was approved last week by the San Francisco board of supervisors and only needs approval from Mayor Newsom, a strong proponent of the subsidy initiative. With funding in place, the city expects the program to be in progress within weeks resulting in the generation of 1.5MW of solar energy for San Francisco homes and businesses

The initial approval is for a 10 year program with an annual budget of $3 million. A pilot program that will provide solar incentives to low-income residents and non-profit organizations is also ready to begin with $1.5 million in funding. Collectively, the subsidies set in place by San Francisco will provide means to drastically reduce the cost of solar on residential and commercial properties

Today, San Francisco has taken a big first step towards addressing climate change and becoming more energy independent,” said solar legislation co-sponsor, and San Fran Assessor-Recorder, Phil Ting. The ambitious, and now feasible, goal of San Francisco’s solar plan is to increase solar installations in the city from 660 to 10,000 over the next 10 years.