The community-owned Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) invests 40 percent of the power bill paid by those using renewable energy into similar "green" projects.

CNN: Solar power takes root in California

SMUD's solar energy program is particularly popular, with solar panels equipped with photovoltaic cells turning hundreds of area homes and businesses into mini-power plants.

CNN: Solar power takes root in California

"What we're trying to do is to get housing developers to install these cells as part of the house itself as they build it, " said SMUD's Colin Taylor.

CNN: Solar power takes root in California