| News - Friday, June 29, 2007
Power to the people
Group celebrates successful purchase of solar arrays for dozens of Mountain View homes
by Daniel DeBolt
About 40 homeowners gathered for a Cuesta Park barbeque last Thursday evening to celebrate the success of the Solar Buyers Group, which purchased solar arrays for dozens of Mountain View homes, earning a bulk-rate discount in the bargain.
Within the next few months, a total of 118 Mountain View homes will be harnessing the sun's rays, generating a total of 345 kilowatts of solar energy.
When asked why they went solar, most simply answered that "It seemed like the right thing to do."
Former council member Mike Kasperzak said he had just seen the climate change documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" before making the decision to get panels for his home.
Residents paid an average of $15,000 after tax rebates for the panels, and some, like Kasperzak, refinanced their homes to buy them. But SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive said homeowners start saving money right away, even when they don't buy the panels as part of a group discount.
"It's cash-flow positive" because the savings on electrical bills can outweigh a monthly loan payment on the panels, the 30-year-old Rive said.
Kasperzak said SolarCity had a great business model, and that the company had inadvertently created a political "affinity group." It seems the Solar Buyers Group's e-mail lists are already being used in support of state legislation to allow solar panel users to more effectively sell their unused energy back to PG&E.
The organizer of Solar Buyers Group, Bruce Karney, earned himself a great deal of praise for his efforts — and something extra to boot. Two weeks ago, he landed a job with SolarCity as community programs marketing manager.
"This whole thing was Bruce, which I think is wonderful," said Monta Loma resident Sheri Morrison.
E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com | 
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