Oakland-based Mosaic unveils a home solar loan. By Dana Hull dhull@mercurynews.com Posted: 03/05/2014 08:24:31 AM PST0 Comments|Updated: 2 months ago By Dana Hull Mosaic, the Oakland-based solar financing startup that made it possible for individuals to invest in commercial solar projects, is entering a highly competitive space: getting solar on your own roof, and using crowdsourcing to pay for it.
Mosaic was expected to unveil the "Mosaic Home Solar Loan" financing program Wednesday as a way to offer homeowners a way to own their solar system outright, without having to pay upfront for the total cost of the system. Mosaic is partnering with RGS Energy, which will install the solar systems financed under the program. The Oakland skyline is reflected on a Mosaic solar panel array in this undated file photo.
"It's a 20-year term, which keeps payments low," Mosaic co-founder Billy Parish said in an email. At the moment, the Mosaic Home Solar Loan is being offered only to residents of California. NRG Energy scoops up home roof solar company. The CEO of power giant NRG Energy, David Crane, told me earlier this week to expect big things from his company around rooftop solar systems for homes.
Now here’s some major news on that front: On Thursday NRG Energy announced that it plans to acquire Roof Diagnostics Solar, the sixth largest residential solar installer in the U.S. with 470 employees. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Based in New Jersey, Roof Diagnostics Solar is currently focused on providing solar installation and financing services to East Coast home owners, but plans to expand its services to the West Coast soon. NRG Energy already has a small but growing residential solar installation and financing business called NRG Residential Solar Solutions. Roof Diagnostics Solar will start operating under the NRG Residential Solar Solutions brand within the next month. David Crane — CEO and President, NRG Energy NRG has the balance sheet to compete, though it’s trailing an already crowded market. How Our Alternative Energy Investments Work. Biggest US Community Solar Project Opens in Colorado. This is an archived story.
The information and any links may no longer be accurate. The biggest community solar garden in the US has opened in southwestern Colorado, the San Miguel Power Association Community Solar Array. At 1.1 megawatts (MW), covering 7 acres, it can serve over 200 customers that live in the territory of rural electric coop San Miguel Power Association.
Solar garden pioneer Clean Energy Collective built and maintains the array. People can buy individual solar panels for $705 after rebates - they can buy just one panel or as many panels as they want to offset their electricity and receive credit for the power produced on their monthly utility bills. The price includes the same tax credits and electricity discounts as if the panels were installed on a customer's roof, and they don't have to worry about maintenance or repairs. "We are leveraging scalability to the benefit of individual panel owners. Here's information on Guides to developing community solar. Xcel's Colorado Community Solar Gardens Sells Out in 30 Minutes.
Local, smaller scale solar PV project developers are showing very strong interest in building so-called “solar gardens” in Colorado.
So many applied for Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards Community solar gardens program this past week—the first time it’s been opened to project developers—that the utility had to close the application window just 30 minutes after it opened. During that time, Xcel received applications for three times the solar PV capacity allowed under current state law, according to a report from Boulder’s Daily Camera. Xcel’s aiming to install some 4.5-MW of solar power capacity from solar PV systems with total rated capacity less than or equal to 500-kW. “The success of this initial offering and the fact that it subscribed so quickly clearly shows that this is a beneficial and desirable program for our Colorado customers,” commented Xcel subsidiary Public Service Co. of Colorado president and CEO, David Eves.
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