Solar Energy Information

How Photovoltaics (PV) works 
For a basic understanding of how solar power works read from the people who advanced photovoltaic technology to make it reliable and affordable the space industry.

Pricing PV Systems

The cost of a PV system depends on the system size, equipment options, permitting costs, and labor costs. Prices vary depending on other factors as well, such as age of the home, where the system is installed on the premise, the PV manufacturer, and other factors.

Total average cost of an installed residential PV system (as of June 2010) under the California Solar Initiative was $8.50 per Watt (including installation, as of end of June 2010). That translates to about $26,000 for a four-kilowatt system: the average size of a residential installation.

Financing a Solar Energy System

Many customers go through their commercial lenders to finance their solar energy systems, and home equity loans have been the most common method for homeowners to purchase their solar systems.

The State of California's Solar Initiative (CSI)
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and provides incentives for solar system installations to customers of the state’s three investor-owned utilities (IOUs): Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E).

For Local Programs Offered by SCE

Future solar customers should also check with their local service provider for additional programs or incentives.

City Permitting Requirements
The City of La Palma currently issues a building and electrical permit for Solar PV Systems.

Other Useful Sources
http://energy.gov/
http://www.energysavers.gov/
http://www.greenerchoices.org/
http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/
http://www.globalgreen.org/