| Going Green - Friday, March 14, 2008
Residents get second chance at solar group buy
by Daniel DeBolt
It's been a year since homeowners organized Mountain View's first-ever group purchase of solar power arrays, and now residents say they are back for a second run.
Last year, Bruce Karney helped bring together dozens of fellow residents for a group buy with SolarCity, a Redwood City-based company which installs solar arrays on private residences. Ultimately, 118 Mountain View households received a group discount through the program.
This year, "We're hopeful that we'll get an even larger response," said Karney, who in the interim has taken a job with the company.
This year, the minimum number of households needed for the discount to take effect is 20. The discount for homeowners will be as high as 20 percent.
Tax credits on solar panels are reduced this year, and so the cost for an array is expected to rise to somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 for the average-sized home, Karney said. Most people pay for the panels with a second mortgage on their homes, he said, adding that the panels can pay for themselves after 10 years and will likely last another 20 years after that.
Former City Council member Mike Kasperzak, who has had SolarCity's panels on his own home for almost a year, is leading the effort on the community level.
"I've been pretty happy with mine," he said, noting that one effect of the solar array is that he's become more energy conscious.
"In August, September and October my entire electrical load was covered by the panels," Kasperzak said. Last month, due to the reduced sunlight of winter, he had to pay $30 to PG&E.
The cutoff date for those wishing to participate in the upcoming Mountain View group buy is April 30, said Kasperzak.
"We've got to get on the bandwagon now, because the federal tax credits are diminishing," he said. "The time is now."
INFORMATION:
For those interested in learning more, an informational meeting will be held March 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the MVLA High School District Office, 1299 Bryant Ave.
Register online at www.solarcity.com/tabid/133/Default.aspx or call (888) SOL-CITY
Mike Kasperzak can be reached at mkasperzak@mediates.com or (650) 948-5340
E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com | 
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