Solar energy, via rooftop solar panels, has been available for more than a generation, but so far mainly limited to a "boutique" market of government, institutional and/or rich do-gooders who could afford the massive investment for some obscure payoff down the road. But in 2010, with conventional electric costs on the rise (and poised to jump in Philly), and with people noticing that there's plenty of sun blazing its way down onto us, solar is increasingly moving into the mainstream market, and a new initiative by One Block Off the Grid, in conjunction with Mercury Solar Systems, is poised to move that trend forward in a big way.

One Block and Mercury have put together Philadelphia’s first solar group purchase program, a 90-day deal for Philadelphia residents (as well as some portions of surrounding counties). E2P readers may recall a previous initiative that removed the up-front costs entirely but also the down-the-road payoff. This is instead a bid to make buying and installing solar panels easy and relatively painless for average homeowners, with a view to long-term savings.

Through October 19, solar buyers can get a 15 percent discount from standard rates and be eligible (pending credit approval) for zero down, interest-free financing for 18 months at no additional cost. Mercury is an East Coast company that will handle the actual installation, having so far done more than 1000 solar-panel jobs, according to the company's press release.

Andrew Kleeman, Mercury Solar Systems' Pennsylvania general manager,  told me that the timing was right for this initiative. "The Pennsylvania Sunshine Rebate program is still going, but it's running out - it's stepped down from the second to the third tier [i.e. lower rebate levels from the government for solar installation], and PECO rates are about to go up."

In other words, he added, "there will never be a better time, financially speaking, to do this. It's the perfect alignment of stars for solar."

Of course, that's a great tagline for someone who's hoping to talk people into what's still a pretty large investment - Kleeman said that most systems fall in the $20,000 to $40,000 rage, though rowhome-roof units are "as low as $15,000 - but he's got a point. In the current climate it's unlikely the feds or the state are going to push through another big incentive program anytime soon, and the PECO-rate boost is common knowledge. And of course it's not exactly philanthropy for the homeowner, who stands to make back that investment over time (Mercury will warrant the units for 25 years, says Kleeman) as "free" solar energy displaces what one would otherwise be paying for through the nose.

It's true that the average Philadelphia-area resident doesn't have a lot of capital to invest right now. Maybe this isn't the time for you to jump into the solar pool - but then again, maybe it is. To check into the details on this offer you can get info at www.SolarPhiladelphia.1BOG.org.