Pacific Gas and Electric is partnering with Habitat for Humanity in Northern California to install rooftop solar power systems on every house Habitat for Humanity builds over the next year.

Pacific Gas and Electric will spend about $1.5 million in the project, which will cover the costs of the solar panels and installation on about 65 homes.

The project kicks off today in San Francisco, with 10 Pacific Gas and Electric employees volunteering to install a solar panel system on a Habitat for Humanity home in the city's De Long Terrace Homes.

The solar panels will each generate nearly 300 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy from sunlight each month saving the families approximately $500 a year on energy costs. Each panel will also help avoid the release of more than 132,000 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere over the 30-year life of the system.

Pacific Gas and Electric has supported Habitat for Humanity chapters for more than 10 years, with volunteer support for home building and more than $635,000 for Habitat's general operations and event sponsorships.

Today's event marks the first time PG&E agreed to cover solar costs for every house Habitat builds in Pacific Gas and Electric’s service area.