New Solar Rebate Launches for Arizona Homeowners

December 8th, 2011 by Nicholas Brown

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG), an organization that aims to help people go solar (which previously owned CleanTechnica), has announced that it is offering its new and unique rebate for homeowners that want to go solar in Arizona.

The solar panel rebate is offered to participants based on the total number of Arizona households that purchase solar installations within a 90-day period.

“There are already some strong solar rebates in Arizona, but we wanted to create a tipping point,” said 1BOG CEO (and occasional CleanTechnica contributor) Dave Llorens. “So, in addition to solar rebates from APS, SRP, and TEP, now there’s a solar rebate that grows according to the real-time level of consumer interest in solar in Arizona.”

For each eligible household, $100 will be placed in a community chest account, to start with, and each time someone in Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, Mesa, or Sierra Vista goes solar, the company will place an additional $10 in each account from now until March 2012.

After this three-month program ends, homeowners that lease or purchase solar panels will receive a rebate check funded by the community chest account mentioned above.

This new idea was tested in San Diego in 2010 and was found to be very effective. Over the last two years, 1BOG’s membership has grown by a whopping 98.4% due to increases in the cost of electricity and blackouts that took place in September 2011.

“We’re seeing an unprecedented level of interest in energy independence among homeowners,” said Llorens. “Solar payback periods are coming down as electricity bills go up, so we recommend homeowners get a solar estimate at least once every six months, especially in places like Arizona where multiple incentives are in place.”

As the name implies, “One Block Off The Grid” is a community-oriented organization that encourages people to go solar using community-funded rebates.

h/t PR Newswire
Photo Credit: davduf

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Tags: arizona one block off the grid, arizona solar scheme, community purchased solar, residential solar

About the Author

Nicholas Brown writes on CleanTechnica, Gas2, Kleef&Co, and Green Building Elements. He has a keen interest in physics-intensive topics such as electricity generation, refrigeration and air conditioning technology, energy storage, and geography. His website is: Kompulsa.com.

Jerryjohnson58

I would even go to the point that all new construction should have solar panels. Roofs orientated to the Sun, R 30 insulation in the walls, mandatory spray foam for sealing, R 70 in the Attic. Mini-Split Air conditioners in every room. And the HOA’s need to allow each and every house to build coverings on the East, West and South side of the home if the homeowner wants. This will provide shade to the house and reduce energy use.