The Sacramento Metro Chamber Board of Directors recently endorsed AB 811 (Levine) as recommended by the chamber’s Economic Development and Regulatory Affairs Committee. This bill will provide cities throughout California with a mechanism to further develop local markets for renewable energy systems. The bill has passed the Assembly and is currently in committee in the Senate.

The bill will allow a general law city to establish, with approval of the property owners, an area in which it wishes to make loans for renewable energy systems. The property owners may then request loans from the city to finance installation. Loan repayments will be added to the property tax bill for the loan recipient. These costs will only be added to the tax bills of loan recipients.

AB 811 represents a technical fix. Currently, charter cities are able to establish target areas in which they will make loans available to property owners wishing to install renewable energy systems. Before general law cities (the majority in California) can provide these loans, the state needs to include it as a provision in the powers granted to them.

“Our state needs to use every measure possible to encourage clean and green technology,” said Matt Mahood, Metro Chamber president & CEO. “Bills like AB 811 will make it easier for residents and businesses to upgrade their homes with solar and similar technology. The more we can develop a market, the more products we’ll have to choose from—and that will help to reduce acquisition costs over the long run.”

The bill is supported by the California Business Properties Association and the California Solar Energy Industries Association and has been received broad support.