Catch some rays, save money

Catch some rays, save money Dominick Porretto Jr., a certified electrical contractor and owner of A National Electric Service Inc., recently installed 10 solar-powered panels on the roof of his building to help provide energy for his home/office in Pompano Beach. The SunPower-brand photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, will power part of his apartment's energy needs year round, even on cloudy days. The system would normally retail for about $8,600, Porretto said, after a rebate from the state. Despite the high initial cost of installing a photovoltaic power system, Porretto and other proponents of solar power think demand for these products will expand in South Florida and other parts of the state as people become aware of rebates now available from the state, the potential savings as power bills continue to rise and the "green" benefits of solar power.