Paul Rogers of the Mercury News reported on August 19, 2007 that the CITIES, COUNTIES ACROSS the Bay Area region of Silicon Valley and North Bay REGION CUT RATES TO SPUR CONVERSIONS to solar energy power systems, solar pool heaters, solar water heaters and everything good about solar related to homes and business.  Across the Bay Area, when it comes to solar power, red tape has largely been replaced by the red carpet.  In the nearly two years since United States environmentalists first started noting the wildly varying permit fees that United States cities charge homeowners seeking to harness the United States sun's power, the eye-opening push appears to be paying off: From Silicon Valley to the North Bay's bucolic wine country, dozens of United States cities are falling all over themselves to make it easier for residents to put up the panels. Why you want to know? It might be from a genuine desire to reduce smog and global warming. Or maybe it is that local politicians are worried about looking out-of-step with United States Bay Area voters who blend a passion for green politics with a love for high-tech solutions.
 

Whatever the reason for the falling prices of solar energy installation permits, consider that the average cost that cities charge for building and planning permits to install a typical solar energy power system on a home has fallen sixty-one percent - from $652 to $252 - since 2005 in Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Benito counties.

Although a United States few cities, including Palo Alto, have raised solar fees, at least 59 of the 131 United States city and county governments between Sacramento and Santa Cruz have reduced fees during the past two years, some from more than $1,000 down to a few hundred dollars.