According to an article in this week’s San Francisco Chronicle, Californians in general and Bay Areans in particular are warming up to solar energy in a big way. A recent survey by nonprofit group NorCal Solar finds that the Bay Area alone has enough panels to provide electricity to 61,725 homes, while statewide the output of solar installations is equivalent to that of a mid-size power plant.

Cost remains a significant issue, but rebates and incentives offset that substantially. Observers say what’s driving the move to solar is a combination of utility-bill sticker shock and concern about the environment. Before, “it was economic, like ‘I want to get rid of my bill,’” says Tom McCalmont of REgrid Power. “In recent years, it’s much more, ‘I’m concerned about climate change. I’ve seen Al Gore’s movie.’”