US News
California to spend almost 3 billion dollars on solar power plan
Jan 13, 2006, 0:24 GMT
Los Angeles - California officials on Thursday approved a 2.9 million dollar programme that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hopes will prompt the construction of 1 million rooftop solar energy systems by 2017.
The programme aims to produce some 3,000 megawatts of power - about as much as six modern power stations - and make California the third largest producer of solar power after Japan and Germany.
The funding for the 'California Solar Initiative' will come from a hike of about a dollar per month that Californians will pay on their utility bills.
The programme hopes to boost the attractiveness of solar rooftop panels by offering rebates to homeowners and others for adding solar systems. It is also expected to catapult solar technologies and give a big boost to manufacturers of solar power generating cells and panels.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has made the promotion of alternative energy a major part of his political platform and is aiming to make renewable energy like solar and wind power 20 per cent of California's electricity resources by 2017.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in US
- 1. Mitt Romney Addresses Tea Party Summit Pictures
- 2. Seven injured as US Navy plane crashes into apartments
- 3. At least three injured in US Navy plane crash
- 4. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, others to face death penalty trial
- 5. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others to face death penalty trial
Older Talkback
