San Francisco has become the proud owner of the largest municipal solar program in the United States. The Solar Energy Incentive Program, approved by the city board of supervisors on Tuesday, will provide rebates to home- and business owners who install solar panels on their buildings. Individuals can receive up to $6,000; businesses can be granted $10,000. Supervisors also approved a one-year pilot program that will provide funding for solar installations at low-income housing and buildings owned by nonprofits. The program should soon be signed by the willing pen of Mayor Gavin Newsom, and could be ready as early as July 1. San Francisco currently generates less than 5 megawatts of power from 770 solar-powered rooftops, but hopes to boost that to 55 mw from 15,000 rooftops within the next decade.
