SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric Wednesday awarded $600,000 to schools around California to implement solar education programs.
Each school will receive $20,000 to install a 1.3 kilowatt solar power system and teach a solar energy education curriculum, the utility said in a company statement.
"In providing these grants, equipment and curriculum, we hope to help educate students on the benefits of clean, alternative energy sources like solar power, and inspire them to become the solar investors and scientists of tomorrow," Ophelia Basgal, the PG&E vice president for civic partnerships and community initiatives, said via the statement.
In all, the utility has earmarked $1.7 million for expanding the Solar Schools program in 2006, according to the statement.
Solar industry advocates have told United Press International that PG&E is one of the utilities friendliest to solar energy in the country. Following a recent change in California law, the "net metering cap" -- the amount of electricity produced by solar customers that the utility buys back for grid usage -- has risen from 0.5 percent of the utility's total load, to 2.5 percent.
The utility buys this electricity at the retail price, meaning customers see a payback on their investment in solar panels much sooner, PG&E officials said.
