California set to become first US state requiring solar panels on new homes

[Free Vulcan]

California is set to become the first US state to make solar panels mandatory on most newly built homes.

The state’s Energy Commission is due to vote next week on new energy standards that would require virtually all new homes to be constructed with solar panels from 2020.

Currently around 20 per cent of single-family homes are constructed with solar capacity built in, but if the new standards are approved as expected this proportion will rise sharply.

Read more at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/california-solar-power-panels-homes-renewable-green-energy-climate-change-a8337626.html

[thackney]

If your new house is to shaded by old trees, will they make you cut them down?

[Free Vulcan]

If your new house is to shaded by old trees, will they make you cut them down?

@thackney how dare you make bureaucrats think about the unintended consequences! These are one of those sacred ideologically driven government schemes, as holy as the Ark of the Covenant itself! Such questions shall not be asked!

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: ENGADGET

URL: https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/06/california-to-require-solar-panels-on-most-new-homes/

by Jon Fingas


There's no question that solar power is entering the mainstream, but California is about to give it a giant boost. The state's Energy Commission is expected to approve new energy standards that would require solar panels on the roofs of nearly all new homes, condos and apartment buildings from 2020 onward. There will be exemptions for homes that either can't fit solar panels or would be blocked by taller buildings or trees, but you'll otherwise have to go green if your property is brand new.

The plan doesn't require that a home reach net-zero status (where the solar power completely offsets the energy consumed in a year). However, it does provide "compliance credits" for homebuilders who install storage batteries like Tesla's Powerwall, letting them build smaller panel arrays knowing that excess energy will be available to use off-hours.

The new standards are poised to hike construction costs by $25,000 to $30,000 (about half of which is directly due to solar), but the self-produced energy is estimated to save owners $50,000 to $60,000 in operating costs over the solar technology's expected 25-year lifespan.

Short of a surprise rejection at the Energy Commission's May 9th vote, this will make California the first state to have a solar panel requirement.

(EXCERPT) CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST....

[Sanguine]

They didn't do an objective environmental impact study because there's no way this bill would have moved forward if they had.

[Free Vulcan]

Topics merged.