The cost of environmentally friendly electricity will decrease with the newly created California Solar Initiative. The 10 year, $2.9 billion program was recently designed by the California Public Utilities Commission to promote solar development and address Governor Schwarzenegger’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By 2017, the initiative plans to install one million solar systems or an equivalent of 3,000 megawatts of solar capacity.

According to a recent release by the PUC, the California Solar Initiative is the largest solar program in the country and will encourage builders to include solar installations in new housing developments. Other program provisions include an emphasis on testing the performance and output of the solar systems installed, as well as program funding for affordable housing installations.