Several months after becoming the nation's first city to make solar panels affordable, Berkeley issued a check Friday to the first resident who completed the installation.

The Berkeley FIRST program allows the city to finance construction of the panels, which property owners pay for over 20 years through property taxes.

Berkeley residents Aaron Mann and Jeanne Pimentel are the first of the 38 participants in the pilot program to finish installation on their homes. The pilot program filled up within minutes of being open to applicants.

"I was interested in using solar energy just because I like the idea from a conservation point of view," Pimentel said. "About a year ago, I realized I couldn't afford it, so I gave up the idea. Then I heard the city would fund this scheme."

The program saves energy costs by using panels for energy instead of making consumers purchase energy from a company, said Gail Feldman, the city's sustainable energy programs manager.

Dan Kammen, a professor in the energy and resources group at UC Berkeley, said the program could reduce energy consumption by two-thirds since buildings with panels do not rely on carbon-emitting sources.

The recently passed $787 billion federal economic stimulus package has provisions that supplement the program, said Nils Moe, assistant to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.

Moe said Berkeley secured a 30 percent federal tax credit from the package for participants investing in renewable energy projects such as Berkeley FIRST.

"The stimulus ensures that the credit actually goes to the homeowner," Bates said. "It's an important step because it removes a major cloud over people's decision to pursue (Berkeley FIRST)."

This tax credit is part of the $100 billion included in the package for energy projects nationwide, including $43 billion for clean air and renewable energy, according to Kammen.

Other national provisions of the package include $3.2 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, $5 billion to expand energy efficiency for low income homes and tax credit increases for energy-efficient upgrades in homes.

Berkeley FIRST is part of the city's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

"I believe it's going to be our major contribution towards fighting global warming and climate change," said Bates.

Kammen said Berkeley is a model for about 500 cities worldwide.

According to Feldman, cities like San Francisco and San Diego are putting together similar proposals, but Berkeley is still the only city already implementing the program.

Pimentel said funding from the package makes participating in the program an added benefit.

"I am really thrilled to be part of the stimulus effort," Pimentel said.

Tags: ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE, BERKELEY FIRST PROGRAM, RENEWABLE ENERGY