Solar power energizes Austin leaders

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin city leaders are hoping their new green energy program will energize homeowners to go green.

They unveiled Project Energize Tuesday, which provides an incentive to get homeowners to use solar energy.

"We're constantly looking for new ways to promote responsibility and sustainability," said Lee Leffingwell, Austin Mayor.

City officials are looking at Austin's energy future over the next decade. They are determined to make Austin the clean energy capital of the world.

"With this program, Austin Energy won't be spending any money," said Leffingwell. "It will just be a loan program. The homeowners pay nothing. The city pays nothing."

The loan is structured in a way that the monthly savings in energy costs will pay for the extra costs of repaying the loan.

"There's no upfront costs," said Leffingwell. "If it works the way it's supposed to, there will be no ongoing costs to the homeowner."

Project Energize would replace the city's rebate program, which is almost out of money, since Austin Energy had a limit on what it could spend.

Lloyd Lee is president of Hill Country Ecobuilders, which specializes in green homes and remodeling. Lee is a true Texan. Living in the Lone Star State his entire life, he knows sunshine is a hot commodity.

"The area we're in is perfect for solar," said Lee. "It's paramount. We have to get off of non-renewable energy sources and solar is just one aspect of that."

But with the economy the way it is, Lee relies on green energy incentives to bring in customers.

"Without any kind of incentives through the federal government or local assistance, it makes it a really tough financial argument," said Lee.

If approved, the program would be the first of its kind in Texas. The City Council will hear the resolution Thursday. Mayor Leffingwell is confident it will be approved. He expects the project to be in full operation by next summer.