When Berkeley resident Marty Lynch signed up to participate in the city's new pilot program to finance the installation of solar panels, he knew he would be on the cutting edge of the green movement.

City officials were hoping that 40 residents would sign up for the program, and said they were astounded when that number was met within the first nine minutes of when the application became available online on Nov. 5. By the time the application window closed Wednesday, 77 residents had applied.

"We were pleasantly surprised by the interest," said Julie Sinai, chief of staff for Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. "We knew that the demand would be solid, but we really didn't know that people would be sitting on the edge of their computer chairs."

The applicants were hoping to be part of the city's highly touted plan that allows homeowners to install solar energy systems up to $37,500 with almost no up-front expenditures and pay back the cost over 20 years through an additional property tax.

The 40 applicants represent five homes in each of the eight council districts, selected on a first-come, first-served basis, officials said.

Many other cities throughout the country are looking to Berkeley's plan to see if they can implement similar schemes in their own communities.

The plan is popular because it allows homeowners to link the cost of the systems with their homes. That way, they are not personally responsible for the entire installation cost if they decide to sell their homes. It also provides an alternative to taking out a loan to fund installation.

The city is taking out 40 bonds totaling $1.5 million to fund the pilot program.

Mimi Frusha, managing director of Renewable Funding, the company buying the bonds, said the program's success despite the financial crisis is no surprise.

"I think the financial crisis only facilitates programs like this and helps them grow," Frusha said. "When we are in a credit crunch, it allows homeowners to continue to make improvements to their homes that have an impact on the environment and their communities in the long run."

By going solar, residents can save 15 to 20 percent on electrical costs over 25 years, said JP Ross, vice president of strategic relations for the Berkeley solar company, Sungevity.

But for Lynch the environmental impact was far more important than the financial gain.

"It is absolutely about feeling like it is the right thing to do in reducing my use of nonrenewable energy sources," he said. "If each of us could do a little in that direction, it could make a major impact. I wanted to be part of the solution."

Tags: GREEN ECONOMY