Solar Leases Will Drive Solar Home Growth to $5.7B

[swag]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2013/02/11/solar-leases-will-propel-solar-home-growth-to-5-7b/?sf9505131=1

Ucilia Wang, Contributor

A financing mechanism that makes solar energy more affordable is set to propel the growth of the residential market in the United States from $1.3 billion in 2012 to $5.7 billion in 2016, according to a report released Monday.

The mechanism makes it possible for homeowners to pay little or no money down to have a set of solar panels installed on their roofs. Instead of forking over, say, $20,000 to install and own the equipment, they pay a fee each month for using the electricity produced from the panels. Homeowners typically sign a long-term contract of 15 to 20 years with the companies that pay for solar equipment and labor and make sure the solar panels work properly during the lifetime of the contract.

This model, called “solar leases” or “third-party financing,” was rare five years ago. Now it’s available in 14 states. It now accounts for over 70% of all residential installations in California, Arizona and Colorado, said the report by GTM Research.

California is the largest solar energy market and, unsurprisingly, it also is the first market for solar leases. That’s mainly because the state has budgeted roughly $2.2 billion for rebates to support the installations of 1,940 megawatts of solar electric systems for homes, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies from 2007 through 2016.


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[NRA_SUCKS]

1. did i miss the link in the article that says which states are member of this process?

it may not be much, but I own a trailer home, and I have a roof that I own.
I'd be quite interested in this for my home because my monthly energy bill is stupid (because its so cold).
i'd love anything that would help lower it a bit.

[GTurck]

2. We have...

a perfect south facing roof line in Central Texas that I have always known would be perfect for solar panels. It would depend on the "slight" fee to use the energy we produced and if our electric co-op would give us such a lease but I would do it in a Chicago minute.