U.S. offers more cash for solar energy

WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- New funding for electronics and hardware not directly associated with solar panels could help spur alternative energy in the United States, an official said.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said his department unveiled $27 million in new funding that targeted electronics, mounting hardware and other items not directly tied to the physical solar panel.

The funding would help cut some of the fees associated with solar energy and encourage homeowners, business and communities to include solar power into their energy mix, he said.

Chu's initiative is part of the so-called SunShot program, which would help spur American innovations to reduce the costs of solar energy.

"These investments under the SunShot program can help to transform the solar energy industry by addressing significant challenges to solar energy deployment, including permitting and installation," said Chu in a statement.

Funding for the solar energy projects would help drive down costs about 75 percent, which would make solar energy cost about 6 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

The Energy Department has spent more than $1 billion on solar energy research in the past decade.