Ohio budget tries to boost solar power

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s latest budget seeks to make solar power more affordable for residents who want to go green.

The onus falls on cities and townships to carry the vision forward.

The budget allows communities to raise money through bonds or grants to pay for the installation of solar panels on homes.

The up-front expense of installing a solar power system — around $30,000 — is perhaps the greatest deterrent to wider deployment.

Residents would repay those costs through a special assessment on their property tax bills for up to 25 years.

State grants and a federal tax credit also lower the cost of solar power.

Berkeley, Calif., first started a solar municipal financing program two years ago, and the idea has spread to about a dozen states.