California Gives Final OK To Require Solar Panels On New Houses (npr.org)

Solar panels will be a required feature on new houses in California, after the state's Building Standards Commission gave final approval to a housing rule that's the first of its kind in the United States. From a report: Set to take effect in 2020, the new standard includes an exemption for houses that are often shaded from the sun. It also includes incentives for people to add a high-capacity battery to their home's electrical system, to store the sun's energy. "These provisions really are historic and will be a beacon of light for the rest of the country," said commissioner Kent Sasaki, according to The Mercury News. "[It's] the beginning of substantial improvement in how we produce energy and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels."

The rule marks a new phase in California's environmental policies, which have often set trends and established standards nationwide. The state has set the goal of drawing 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources and sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The solar panels rule was initially endorsed as part of the state's Green Building Standards Code by the California Energy Commission back in May.

Comments

Perfect democrats

[makotech222]

Improve the environment by destroying the middle/lower class's ability to buy home. How about just tax rich people and force out coal and oil companies? The difference in benefits is several orders of magnitude, but no, we can't harm our generous donors.

Re: Perfect democrats

[peragrin]

Name one california regulation or government over reach? Name one? Waiting?

Republicans love saying government over reach and regulations. Yet at the end of the day they use those same laws over and over again. Why can't Republicans replace obamacare? Because Obamacare is the republican health care plan. You need all the parts to make it work, and when they remove what they don't like they suddenly can't afford the parts they want.

Regulation s are not bad, taxes are not bad. I. Good economy you use both to slow it down just enough to keep the good times rolling. Tax cuts instead of paying debt that is bad.