What Does the Solar Homes Initiative Do?
The Solar Homes Initiative combines the incentives and standards needed to achieve Governor Schwarzenegger’s goal of building half of all new homes with solar power and a million solar roofs by 2017. Specifically, it would: • Make solar power a standard offer of all new homes built in California giving homebuyers the opportunity to save money by incorporating the solar system during the construction; • Provide homeowners and businesses a stable and secure rebate fund of $100 million per year to reduce the upfront cost of solar power systems over the next ten years; • Mandates that these solar rebates decline by no less than 7% each year to bring a mature, self-sufficient solar market by 2015; • Mandate that utilities buy back excess electricity generated by rooftop solar systems up to 5% of peak demand, helping make the investment cost-effective for homeowners and businesses; • Encourage greater energy efficiency in new homes and provide additional support for incorporating solar into
