The New Year will bring a one-of–a-kind program that will provide solar energy to Lane County residents who normally would not be able to afford it.

The program, Sharing Sun, is offered by Emerald People's Utility district. It will reserve forty five of their over 200 solar panels exclusively for low income renters and owners. According to Patty Jo Angelini, it's a response to customer requests for a clean-energy option.

"The low income part is very important because we know that many people want to be environmentally caring," says Angelini. "And so we felt it was very important that everybody

have a chance to be able to get some of their energy from a very clean source."

The solar panels allotted for low-income customers will be distributed by lottery. Other renters and owners can subscribe to up to 16 panels each.

The program's annual offset of greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to be equivalent to fifty-three million miles driven by the average car.

The deadline to enter the Sharing Sun solar lottery is Monday, December fifth.

