The City of Cincinnati is looking to energize a solar campaign by offering a $1,500 rebate for city residents who install solar panels.
The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance(GCEA) announced its "Solarize Cincy" campaign at the Cincinnati Zoo Thursday, the so-called "greenest zoo in the nation."
GCEA CEO Andy Holzhauser said, "Solar is truly at the tipping point."
He cites:
- The cost of solar power has dropped nearly 75 percent over the last decade.
- Solar panels have become sleek and can be customized to unique roofs.
- The infrastructure needed in the house is less complicated and takes up little space.
He urges homeowners to contact the Alliance. Using a home address, GCEA will evaluate the feasibility of solar panels based on location and roof direction within a day. If the home is a good candidate, GCEA will arrange for a solar installation to visit the home and provide an estimate.
The rebate the city is offering is on top of the 30 percent solar tax credit given by the federal government. That rebate is set to expire in 2016. The city's rebate varies on the size of the system.
