SAN DIEGO -- A new independent analysis by a nonprofit environmental group finds San Diego has the most solar roofs and greatest solar- power capacity in place statewide.

Environment California ranks San Diego No. 1 in its California's Solar Cities report released earlier this month, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Ten years ago, San Diego wasn't even among the top 10 solar cities in the state. Today, San Diego has 2,262 solar roofs that together can generate 19.4 megawatts of electricity, the Union-Tribune reported.

"San Diego has just basically woken up to its potential," said author Bernadette Del Chiaro.

Los Angeles ranked second this year with 1,388 solar roofs, while San Francisco was third with 1,350 solar roofs.

Del Chiaro and San Diego city officials told the Union-Tribune three things contribute to San Diego's solar success: lots of sunshine, City Hall's fast-track permitting for solar projects and the Kearny Mesa headquarters of the California Center for Sustainable Energy. The center promotes solar projects through government rebates and other means.

One such program is set to launch this fall, designed to allow San Diego homeowners to obtain 20-year loans for installing solar projects. The loans will be repaid through their property tax bills.