Mainstream Renewable Energy
Beginning in 2020, homes in the state of California, will be required to be built with solar panels. Mandating solar energy for new homes is another step in California’s long list of renewable initiatives and aligns with its goals. Sure, this will raise the cost of construction but more importantly it will decrease the cost of utility energy bills for the homeowner just like any other installed solar panel system. The state’s Energy Commission voted on the landmark proposal, approving it back in May. Newly constructed buildings will be required to have net zero energy by 2020 for residences and by 2030 for commercial buildings. These new homes and businesses will be able to offset the price of electricity with their solar production following in line with California’s goal of requiring at least 50 percent of the state’s electricity to come from non-carbon-producing sources by 2030.
The newly constructed home will not be completely run on the solar energy that they produce and will still be connected to the grid (unless the homeowners choose to purchase a battery) but will be able to opt into net metering programs. No other state in the nation mandates solar power, and California is about to take that big impactful leap. The extra estimated cost in construction is a wide range of $8,000 to 30,000 but will end up saving upwards of $60,000 over the life of the panels.
No industry groups spoke in opposition of the proposal but some Republican legislative leaders argue Californians can’t afford to pay any more for housing in the state’s already extremely expensive market. Critics also argue that it is more efficient for the state to invest in “solar farms” rather than force an increase in price to homes.
At the end of the day, making solar panels mandatory will be cost-effective reports have found, and is the only currently feasible way for the state to fulfill its goal of making new homes produce as much power as they consume.
