The Berkeley city council has unanimously approved a proposal to give homeowners loans to install solar panels on their homes. The loan would be paid off over 20 years via an additional charge of $180 per month on their property taxes. If the property is sold, the new owners assume the loan. The city is starting with a pilot of 50 homes initially.

The program sounds good (though I'd rather save 20K myself over the next ten years than pay 40K over 20), but depending on the timing of the program, and given where the credit market is headed, my question would be how the city of Berkeley is going to find the capital to do this. Program information is here.