Locals are jumping to become part of the solar energy program that earned Gainesville a national award earlier this month.

Gainesville Regional Utilities received national recognition for its efforts with its Solar Feed-in-Tariff program, which allows residents to produce their own solar energy and sell it back to the company for about a 5 percent profit, according to GRU spokeswoman Melanie York.

When the award was announced, local interest spiked, she said, adding that the program is full until 2016.

According to York, Gainesville is the first city to in the country to start a program like the feed-in tariff.

Although the program is only running in 19 commercial systems, including Santa Fe College, another dozen or so will be constructed soon, said Rachel Meek, a GRU employee in the conservation department.

“Right now, we’re helping to stimulate solar energy. As the market levels out, it becomes much more economical for everyone,” Meek said.

While Meek said GRU expected this program to be a success, the company did not expect it to happen so quickly.

Within a week, the 2009-2010 year was filled up with companies who wanted solar energy in their buildings.

“It happened very, very fast. It was kind of crazy at that point in time. We filled so many applications in such a short amount of time,” Meek said.

GRU was recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association and won the SEPA Award for Solar Business Achievement in the area of Community Outreach and Public Awareness.

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