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They're the first participants in the Berkeley First Program, which allows homeowners to pay for a solar heating system through their property taxes. Mayor Tom Bates got a firsthand look on Friday at the system installed on one of the homes. He says the $1.5 million program has multiple benefits.
"This program I think could be our contribution towards dealing with global warming and climate change, and we hope at the same time, that it will not only deal with the environmental questions, we'll also put people to work in the process," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.
Slots for the first round of funding sold out nine minutes after the application period opened. Mayor Bates says states and cities around the country are now looking at replicating the program.
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