Go Solar, Save Thousands

by Bevan Dufty

For most homeowners in San Francisco, the idea of installing solar panels on their rooftops seemed like a dream limited to the handful of people that could afford it.

Today in San Francisco, less than 1,000 of our 195,000 rooftops have solar energy systems installed - less than 1 percent. That's why I was very proud to sponsor legislation that was finally passed by the SF Board of Supervisors and signed by Mayor Gavin Newsom in June to dramatically increase the number of solar energy installations in our City through the nation's largest municipal solar incentive program.

The program, announced by Newsom and Tax Assessor Phil Ting last December, is called GoSolarSF and is managed and funded by the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

GoSolarSF will offer incentives on solar panel installations for residences from $3,000 to $6,000 and for businesses up to $10,000. Low-income households and non-profit, multi-family housing developments can qualify for even greater financial incentives. With the City's GoSolarSF program, when coupled with other state rebates and federal tax credits, the original net cost of $20,000 to $25,000 for installing solar on a single-family home can be cut in half.

A rooftop solar installation will increase your property value and dramatically reduce your utility bill. More importantly, you will be doing your part to help the environment by using a clean, renewable energy source. Our goal in San Francisco over the next 10 years is to produce 55 megawatts through more than 15,000 solar rooftop installations.

Prices on solar panels have been steadily decreasing with the advent of new technology, installation methods have become more refined and less problematic and the number of rebates and incentive programs like the one offered by the city of San Francisco are bringing prices into an affordable range for many. With San Francisco already recognized as a national leader in municipal solar installations, it is now time to become the national leader in residential and business solar installations as well.

Join us in the GoSolarSF movement by visiting the Web site at http://sfwater.org/solarincentive and please join me on Saturday, July 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood St., to learn about the City's incentive program and how you can affordably install solar power on your property. Together, we can make the San Francisco solar dream a reality.

Bevan Dufty is a San Francisco supervisor.