OREANDA-NEWS. SunPower and Google are offering American homeowners a chance to lease rooftop solar systems. The two partners have created at USD 250 million program to finance the installation of solar panels and lease them back to homeowners for less than their electricity bill. This means that retail customers will enjoy immediate access to solar energy without having to pay up front. Some 20,000 Americans are already leasing SunPower solar panels and tens of thousands more will be able to follow suit thanks to the program. The initiative reflects SunPower's commitment to go beyond supplying panels, to also install and maintain them and offer financing solutions. Google is committing USD 100 million. That may seem surprising at first glance, but the U.S. Internet giant has already invested more than USD 1 billion in renewable energy projects.