There’s a movement growing across the country of energy-conscious homeowners looking to switch from traditional electric power to alternatively generated options. The best example of this is in California. The state has created an initiative bringing together industry, utilities, and government to encourage homes and some businesses to convert to solar energy.

As part of this long-term initiative (it runs through the end of 2016), homeowners are eligible for California solar power rebates when they install solar panels in their homes. There are other programs for installing solar systems in new construction and even in business and agricultural endeavors. Because the state is covered by over a dozen different utility companies, the eligible programs vary depending upon which utility has jurisdiction over a specific property.

Homeowners in other states may also be entitled to government tax credits or utility rebates if they convert their homes to solar power . In some cases, utilities will even buy back any excess power generated by a home, so that individuals actually get paid for using solar panels. As more and more states follow the lead of California, look for even more incentives as well as educational programs to crop up all over the country.