If you’re in the market for a solar water-heating system and live in the right part of California or Nevada, the Valley Electric Association (VEA) might have the best deal in town.

The electric cooperative operates in both states, serving four counties from Sand Valley to Esmeralda County. VEA is doing all it can to promote solar hot water systems among homeowners: the co-op is selling the systems at face value, providing free certified installation and giving interest-free loans to further entice the public to go solar.

VEA undertook the plan — one of the largest domestic solar water heating programs in the United States — in early September 2009, aiming to install 5,000 solar water-heating systems by 2013.

“We are very confident that we will reach our goal,” said Staci Behnke, VEA’s Community and Governmental Relations Manager, adding that the response to the program has been “very positive.”

VEA has Installed over 100 solar water-heaters since the start of the initiative, cutting utility bills of VEA customers while slashing carbon and other emissions associated with burning coal and other fossil fuels.