Property Tax Assessments as a Finance Vehicle for Residential PV Installations: Opportunities and Potential Limitations
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & Clean Energy States Alliance
This LBNL-CESA Case Study describes the mechanics of a new type of PV financing program recently proposed by the City of Berkeley that offers its residents the ability to utilize increased property tax assessments as a means of repaying over time the up-front cost of installing PV systems. This innovative approach is appealing to many cities across the US. This case study evaluates the financial attractiveness of this specific program and its interactions with the residential solar ITC and other state or nationwide “rollouts.”