Berkeley moves ahead with solar-financing program
The city council approved a new tax district that residents can join to finance solar energy systems through their property taxes.
Under the plan, the city will provide money for installation and material costs, which homeowners would pay back at a fixed rate over 20 years.
Residents would pay about $180 a month through their property tax bills for a typical $22,000 solar-electric system, but they should eventually recoup the money through lower electricity costs.
Next, Berkeley officials will select a lender to provide financing for the program. The city also plans to start holding workshops for interested homeowners.
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Germany turns its back on nuclear for good despite Europe's energy crisis
BERLIN - The German government is phasing out nuclear power despite the energy crisis. The country is pulling the plug on its last three reactors, betting it will succeed in its green transition without nuclear power.
On the banks of the Neckar River, not far from Stuttgart in south Germany, the white steam escaping from the nuclear power plant in Baden-Württemberg will soon be a memory.
The same applies further east for the Bavarian Isar 2 complex and the Emsland complex, at the other end of the country, not far from the Dutch border.
While many Western countries depend on nuclear power, Europe's largest…