Low-Income Families In San Francisco's Bayview Get Free Solar Panels
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— More than a dozen low-income families in San Francisco's Bayview District are receiving free solar panels through a non-profit solar energy group this weekend.
A team of volunteers is hard at work installing the money-saving solar panels as a part of GRID Alternatives annual Solarthon work party.
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
Executive Director Erica Mackie said her group, along with dozens of volunteers from the community and corporate partners, like PG&E, Sun Run and Google are spending all day putting the package together.
"From the racking that holds the panels on the rooftop to the inverter that converts the electricity to electricity your house can use, the net affect is that it's lowering these families' electricity bills," Mackie said.
Mardina Graham was one of the lucky recipients from the program back in 2006 and said she instantly started to see savings.
Her latest PG&E bill was a little over $17. Curtis Lee said he can't wait for the panels to be installed on his home on Garnett Terrace so he can get in on the savings.
"The way the economy is today it's hard to make ends meet. So whenever you can find some cost-savings, it's a good thing," said Lee.
When the dust settles, 13 homes will start receiving free solar power.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
