Solar systems arrive in stores

January 5, 2008

As afternoon shadows stretched across the black panels in his backyard, Gary Simons read the digital readout from his solar-power system. He earned more than nine kilowatt hours of electricity, despite the short winter day and the fact that he installed the system on the ground behind his house.

"I'm excited to see what it says in the summer," he said of the new power system at his Phoenix home.

Utility officials and energy regulators are hoping that more people choose to power their homes like Simons to lessen the burden on the electricity grid and reliance on fossil fuels. Now they're getting a big boost from a major oil company and major retailer.

By Ryan Randazzo, The Arizona Republic

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-01-05-solarpower_N.htm