Solar Love
  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls

Solar Love

  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls
Going SolarRooftop Solar

Texas CPS Energy Installing Free Solar Rooftop Panels

by Aisha Abdelhamid April 3, 2015
written by Aisha Abdelhamid April 3, 2015
Texas CPS Energy Installing Free Solar Rooftop Panels

Currently working on contracting with a third party to install solar panels, free of charge to its customers, CPS Energy is gearing up for its new “Rent the Roof” solar program in San Antonio, Texas. The pilot program, set to launch in mid-2015, is still in the request-for-proposals (RFP) phase, evaluating contractor proposals for installing the solar rooftop panels.

cps energy offering free solar rooftop installation © cps energy

CPS Energy offering free solar rooftop installation. © CPS Energy.

CPS Energy Also Offers Enough Rent “To Get People Interested”

Raiford Smith, vice president of corporate development and planning at CPS Energy, speaking to KSAT12 Reporter Jenna Hiller, explained, “We have this purchase power agreement where essentially we will contract with a third party to install solar panels, essentially at no charge to the customer.”

Around 300-400 homes are expected to be signed up for the one megawatt solar energy generation pilot program. San Antonio resident Oscar Samano told Hiller that he would sign up for the CPS Energy program, “if he could avoid the roughly $30,000 cost of installing panels on his own.” Samano related, “I have a large awning and a large roof. It’s a three-bedroom house.” He continued, “We don’t have room for the wind turbines, so solar panels would be the best project.”

In exchange for a contract with CPS Energy to buy the output for the 15-year expected lifetime of solar panels, homeowners will receive free installation, and a monthly rent payment in the form of a credit on their CPS Energy bill. Although it has not yet been determined how much “rent payment” customers will receive, the utility company has said “it would be enough to get people interested.”

Planned Growth to 50MW Community Rooftop Solar

Since 2007, reports CPS Energy, just over 20MW solar generation has already been installed on San Antonio home and business rooftops. “We’re excited about the prospect of increasing the amount of rooftop solar in our service territory by making it available to more customers.” said Cris Eugster, executive vice president and chief generation and strategy officer. If successful, the 1MW community rooftop pilot program will be expanded to 25 or even 50 MW over the next few years.

Anita Ledbetter, interim executive director of Solar San Antonio and executive director of Build San Antonio Green said, “This program has the potential to bring solar power to the rooftops of people who couldn’t afford it before.” Ledbetter continued, “CPS Energy is our utility. It’s owned by us, the people of San Antonio. And the idea of our utility putting solar on our people’s rooftops, instead of building another centralized power plant – it’s a very exciting thing, and Solar San Antonio is very supportive.”

cps energy distributed rooftop solar program © cps energy

CPS Energy distributed rooftop solar program. © CPS Energy.

CPS Energydistributed solarrent the roofSan Antoniosolar panelssolar rooftopsTexas
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Aisha Abdelhamid

Aisha Abdelhamid is a freelance lifestyle and environmental science writer currently living in Vancouver, BC. Her interests include environmental conservation, climate science, renewable energy, faith-based environmental activism, green building, creative lifestyles, and healthy living.

previous post
Renewables Rise, Emissions Fall In UK
next post
US Solar Job Training Program Announced

You may also like

Top New York Solar Installers

November 10, 2017

US Trade Commission Finds That Imports Of Cheap...

September 23, 2017

Leading North Carolina Solar Companies

September 20, 2017

North Carolina Solar Energy (In Depth)

September 20, 2017

Best Arizona Solar Installers

September 11, 2017

Top Hawaii Solar Installers

September 11, 2017

California Solar Installers

August 22, 2017

Nissan & Eaton Bring Residential Storage Batteries To...

May 8, 2017

High School Girls Create Solar Powered Tent For...

April 6, 2017

New Office Building In Edmonton Gets 500 Exterior...

April 4, 2017

Follow Me

Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Meet PVCase: A 3D Solar Design Software That Every PV Designer Should Consider

    June 12, 2019
  • Mitsui To Partner With Indian Company For Distributed Solar Projects

    June 10, 2019
  • India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To ISA Members

    June 9, 2019
  • Equinor & Scatec Solar Complete 162 Megawatt Brazilian Solar Plant

    November 29, 2018
  • Gamesa Awarded 400 Megawatt Solar Project In Egypt

    November 29, 2018
  • Facebook

@2019 - All Right Reserved solarlove.org


Back To Top