California (that liberal state)mandates solar panels on new homes

[packman]

?w=810
All-electric homes

In addition to widespread adoption of solar power, the new provisions include a push to increase battery storage and increase reliance on electricity over natural gas. Among the highlights:
•The new solar mandate would apply to all houses, condos and apartment buildings up to three stories tall that obtain building permits after Jan. 1, 2020.
•Exceptions or alternatives will be allowed when homes are shaded by trees or buildings or when the home’s roofs are too small to accommodate solar panels.
•Solar arrays can be smaller because homes won’t have to achieve true net-zero status.
•Builders installing batteries like the Tesla Powerwall would get “compliance credits,” allowing them to further reduce the size of the solar system.
•Provisions will encourage more electric use or even all-electric homes to reduce natural gas consumption. State officials say improved technology is making electric water heaters increasingly cost-effective.

BUT - and it's a big but - California's problem with solar is not daytime energy usage where great strides are being made, but in night-time energy usage when power is pulled from the electrical grid and gas burning plants have to come on line.



https://www.ocregister.com/2018/05/04/california-to-become-first-u-s-state-mandating-solar-on-new-homes/

[BigmanPigman]

1. Look at the ground around those new homes...

do you see lush, green stuff growing? Nope. CA is naturally dry (This year is another drought year too)and we have too many people already. Too much water and electricity is needed for a growing population (in some areas). I want to know when all the zillion dollar desalination plants are going to be built and where the money is coming from? I hope the solar panels are being produced here or else the moron may put a tariff on them to punish the blue state.

[RockRaven]

2. The one-liner is about solar panels, which will make simpletons like Trump whinge,

but it is a part of a package of new building standards being considered, and like all rules/regs it comes down to balancing costs and benefits. For reference, the current standards were last updated more than a decade ago. There was some talk about pushing to net zero energy usage, but these new standards don't go quite that far.

It will add $25-30K to the cost of a newly constructed house, while saving $55-60K in electricity costs over the first 25 years. About half the increased building costs is the solar part, the other half is increased efficiency in lighting, appliances, heating, cooling, insulation, etc.

At least, that's what the article in my newspaper said this morning.

[doc03]

3. Real estate prices are already driving people out of California by the 100s of

thousands, how much will this cost?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Unfortunateely, the folks being driven out of California are the lower income folks.

The rich are still here and they are buying.

I don't know how much these systems will cost.

[Auggie]

5. It's about time