Clean energy firms choose summer solstice to promote solar power

Summer solstice 2010 is a turning point in the seasons and could be seen as one for solar energy as well. The summer solstice on June 21, the longest day of the year, was chosen by a California utility company to announce a $ 100 million campaign to promote installation of residential solar power systems. As Congress debates climate and energy legislation, the summer solstice is also being used by clean energy companies to inform the public about the benefits of solar energy.

Source for this article: Clean energy firms choose summer solstice to promote solar power by Personal Money Store

Solar power soars on summer solstice

In PG & E's summer solstice announcement, the company said the $ 100 million tax equity fund is the largest solar leasing pool yet. The New York Times reports that a growing interest in clean energy financing is underscored by PG &E's summer solstice fund announcement. PG & E preceded its summer solstice announcement in January when it established a $ 60 million tax-equity vehicle for SolarCity, a company in the Silicon Valley that also provides solar energy systems on lease to homeowners. And in May, President Obama chose to deliver an address promoting the climate and energy bill at Solyndra, a clean energy company in northern California.

Hassle-free solar power for your home

Solar energy systems financed by the $ 100 million dollar fund will be installed in up to 3,500 homes in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Hassle-free solar energy for homeowners is the main objective of the program. 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. In exchange, SunRun installs, owns and maintains the solar energy systems.

Growing public acceptance of solar energy

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 increasing renewable energy and decreasing dependency on oil should be the country's top energy priorities. 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.

Read more on this topic here

green.blogs.nytimes.com

www.marketwatch.com