California Goes Solar
PV solar panels (credit: California Energy Commission)
California is well known for its beaches, good surf, deserts, and constant sunshine. It is now showing others how 'sunny' it really can be. The State just made another big leap into the 21st Century.
In a unanimous decision, the California Energy Commission approved an upgrade to the State's building code for energy efficiency standards requiring roof-top solar panels be installed on new homes starting in 2020. According to the CEC's announcement, this 'first of its kind' US action will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel cars off the road. Commissioner Andrew McAllister said:
“Under these new standards, buildings will perform better than ever, at the same time they contribute to a reliable grid. The buildings that Californian's buy and live in will operate very efficiently while generating their own clean energy. They will cost less to operate; have healthy indoor air; and provide a platform for ‘smart’ technologies that will propel the state even further down the road to a low emissions future."
Even without the new building rule, California was already a leader in solar energy production nationally. In 2017, solar power represented more than 15% of the State's electrical generating capacity. California's economy is now the world's 5th largest, so they must be doing something right.
In the 19th Century, the Golden State was malaligned as being good for growing 'fruits & nuts'. As with other knowledge-based and technological fields like engineering, entertainment, science, and environmental policy, "what California does others are soon to follow".
WHB