Plans to put solar panels on council houses in Kirklees will be one of the largest local authority-funded solar schemes.
A Green Party proposal was backed by Full Council tonight as part of a deal to agree £21m budget cuts and spending proposals.
The estimated £4.6m cost of installing and maintaining the solar panels in the first year will be met from the council’s housing revenue reserves, ring-fenced money meaning it will not affect wider council coffers.
One thousand solar panels will be installed this year and another 1,000 the year after, with the overall cost around £9.3m.
Clr Andrew Cooper, Green Party leader, said the solar panels will "save households money and put £400,000 back into the local economy."
The solar PV panels will also generate cash for the council as the energy will be fed back into the National Grid and it will help reduce household bills for tenants.
The solar scheme will cut CO2 emissions and will pay for itself within 12 years, generating income for the council. A house equipped with a 2kWp (kilowatt peak) set of panels could save tenants £240 a year.
The Green Party, of five members, and three Valley Independent councillors agreed a compromise budget agreement with the Labour Party.
For the Valley Independents it meant getting support for community asset transfer pans for the Carlile Institute in Meltham.
Community-spirited residents, supported by councillors, want to transform the Carlile Institute into a Post Office, community and business hub.
It got £100,000 support from the council to assist with setting up the Post Office deal, which is required in a short timescale.
But it didn't get overall support after the Lib Dems, backed by the Tories, said it would set a precedent and the parish council should fund it.
Click here to see our liveblog of the meeting to see how it all happened
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