The sun is partially responsible for all the activity at the Clovis home of Dennis and Marlene Hancock this weekend.

Fourteen solar panels are being installed at their house on Fourth Street, courtesy of a state program; a non-profit organization, GRID Alternatives; the city of Clovis; and Pelco.
The retirees met income and other requirements for the Single-Family Solar Affordable Housing Program created by the California Solar Initiative, which is funded by the three big utilities in the state.

GRID Alternatives, started in the San Francisco Bay area, was awarded the contract to administer the residential program.

The group opened an office in July in Fresno, and the Hancock project is the first by that office (although GRID Alternatives in San Francisco has worked on a Habitat for Humanity project in Fresno), said Tom M. Esquedacq, regional director.

The panels are expected to cut the Hancocks' utility bill up to 75%. As a corporate sponsor of the program, Pelco is sending 30 volunteers to help install the panels.