By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent
What Happened: California could become the first state to mandate all new-build homes be powered by solar energy.
SolarWakeup’s View: The California Energy Commission could completely revolutionize what it means to go solar if they approve rules later this week that would mandate solar modules be included on all new-build homes three stories or higher.
According to a report in The Independent, a British newspaper, the mandate is part of a push to make all new homes in the state “net-zero,” meaning they produce no emissions and produce the amount of energy they need. The rules also stress a shift away from natural gas and other fossil fuels to renewable-energy-produced electricity.
As with most things solar, California is moving to the cutting edge, apparently feeling that you can’t do great things piecemeal.
The plan is not without opposition, including from builders who say the additional construction costs would add around $30,000 to your average California house and could put housing out of reach of more lower- and middle-class potential homeowners.
But even the critics conceded that over the life of the system, homeowners would save $60,000, making the addition of a solar array to the home a net profitable addition.
Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about this. As a pro-solar advocate, of course, I think it’s a great idea. It will certainly help a state solar industry that has been a bit buffeted by new time-of-use rates and federal tariffs. And as we all know, as California’s solar market goes, so goes the national market.
On the other hand, affordable housing is a serious issue in California and beyond, and if mandated solar in California does push people out of the housing market, is it worth it?
I’m torn and would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
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California set to become first US state requiring solar panels on new homes