Is CA mandating solar panels?

Solar panels will be a required feature on virtually every new home built in California. Under policy advanced Wednesday by California regulators, again putting the state at the forefront of government controls over climate-warming carbon emissions.

The California Energy Commission voted unanimously, 5-0. They recommend energy efficiency standards are set to be added to state building regulations later this year, affecting all construction after Jan. 1st, 2020.

The rules will make California the first state in the nation to require solar panels on new homes.

Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, an industry group, said, “This will be nothing short of historic for our state and our country. California is once again betting on the sun and putting real policy behind grand vision”.

The requirement will be to single-family homes and apartment and condominium complexes of three stories or less. Solar installations have become so cost-effective that they are included in more than 15k homes built each year in California, even without the directive from the state.

The 2020 and beyond that number promises to increase to 80k, the number of homes built each year in the Golden State.

Crucial in moving the proposal forward was finding that solar power would be cost-effective in all climate zones in the state.

The average estimated cost of a solar system is 9,500, or $40.00 a month when amortized over a 30-year mortgage. But the systems are projected to save customers an average of $80.00 a month on their utility bills.

Kelly Knutsen, a director of the technology advancement for the solar industry group, said, “It’s become more and more attractive to consumers. Whenever there is a demand you want to meet that demand”. The California Building Industry Assn. also praised another part of the new regulation, which gives energy credit to homes that have battery storage technology.

Bob Raymer, technical director of the building association, said, "This inovation “will allow the homeowner to capture the cheaper electricity produced by the rooftop panels during the middle of the day. It will also keep that power on-site for use in the early evening hours when electrical rates go up”. 

The solar panel rule goes before the California Building Standards Commission. This rule typically adopts recommendations from the energy commission.