Opinion: The CPUC needs to embrace the full potential of rooftop solar and energy storage to bolster the entire grid.

Opinion: The future of rooftop solar in California is more important than ever

The shift towards renewable energy sources is more crucial than ever. Climate change is no longer an abstract concept but a pressing reality that demands immediate and innovative solutions. As a solar and energy storage contractor here in San Diego, I believe the future of solar power needs to be re-imagined from a broader perspective.

Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission in its infinite lack of wisdom changed incentives for homeowners purchasing a new solar rooftop. The updated rules went into effect in April.  The rule changes how systems need to be designed and some consider it a backward decision in a time when increased incentives are needed to encourage clean energy adoption.

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Source: TIMES of San Diego

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If California acts to create a new community solar market, the Fresno area has the potential to develop over 150 renewable energy projects.

California regulators must approve community solar to benefit San Joaquin Valley residents

Last September, California’s Legislature and Gov. Newsom made a decision to invest in a program that would simultaneously lower our utility bills, create jobs, improve reliability to our grid on hot summer days, and do all of these things without poisoning the air in our most vulnerable communities.
Community solar, combined with energy storage, can bring San Joaquin Valley residents renewable energy to our rooftops and ensure our community’s resilience. Despite California’s reputation as the clean energy capital of the United States, most Californians have never even heard of Assembly Bill 2316 (AB2316), which allows the state’s renters to choose to have their energy generated from a solar project in their community. The community solar and storage proposal is supported by a coalition of solar, ratepayer advocates, organized labor, environmental justice, and environmental groups.

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Source: The Fresno Bee

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California can break its addiction to natural gas and replace fossil fuels with cleaner energy. We need Governor Newsom to sign SB 619.

No more delays or excuses: California must build clean energy now to replace fossil fuels

2023 has seen its share of clean energy setbacks. Southern California communities were aghast when three polluting gas plants promised for closure were extended again for another three years because state agencies didn’t feel they had enough clean energy resources to shut them down. More promises were broken when the state increased gas storage to full capacity at SoCalGas’ notorious Aliso Canyon facility, again because of professed fears about the lack of clean energy replacements on the part of the state.

But 2023 should be the last year for excuses and delays to follow through on commitments to shutter old gas power plants and leaky storage. Governor Newsom has laid out ambitious goals for California’s clean energy generation and a road map to zero emissions. But with tens of thousands of megawatts of clean energy resources from solar, offshore wind, geothermal development and battery storage needing to come online quickly, California can’t afford a transmission bottleneck. To follow through on his clean energy goals and make them a reality, we need Governor Newsom to sign SB 619.

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Source: Utility Dive

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Renewable energy development is transforming the US countryside. It could be a chance to restore the iconic prairies.

Can massive solar power expansion regenerate the US’s iconic prairies?

A THIRD of North America was once an ocean of grass stretching from what is now central Canada to Mexico. Today, almost all of that original habitat, called prairie, is gone, ploughed for agriculture, paved over for cities and roads, or taken over by encroaching trees and shrubs. Most native prairie remnants are unmarked and hidden to the untrained eye – at least until the spring bloom reveals what grows there.

So, it was a surprise for Danish energy company Ørsted to learn that the field in which it planned to build a giant solar facility was among the largest areas of intact prairie left in Texas. It was also a “wake-up call” for conservationists, says Kirsti Harms at the Native Prairies Association of Texas. “Suddenly there are thousands of acres going into these solar projects.” Unlikely as it seems, this could be good for both clean energy and biodiversity.

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Source: New Scientist

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The Zúñigas got their panels for free, as a result of a state program called Transformative Climate Communities.

Low-income households are getting help from a free solar rooftop program

Gloria and Macedonio Zúñiga have lived in Pacoima for more than 45 years. They emigrated from Mexico and built a life here — Gloria worked as a seamstress and Macedonio as a machinist. They eventually bought a home and raised three children.

Now retired, their days are mostly spent watching over their six young grandchildren.

But in recent years, they’ve noticed the heat only going up. She said every day has felt hotter than the last.

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Source: LAist

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From solar panels to EV chargers to drought-tolerant landscaping, these ecofabulous homes help the planet and look great doing it.

10 ecofabulous California homes to help the planet, your wallet

Weather is getting weirder and bills are getting higher. Here are a few eco-fabulous homes from around the state that will help the planet and your wallet.

  1. Oakridge Estates Home Boasts Pool, Solar, Views Of Lake Berryessa
  2. Oakridge Estates Home Boasts Pool, Solar, Views Of Lake Berryessa
  3. Malibu Mountain Retreat Has Solar, EV Charging For $3.95M
  4. $4.79M Lamorinda Estate Home Outfitted With Solar, EV Chargers
  5. Updated Santee Home With Swimming Pool, Solar Panels: $899K
  6. Eco-Friendly Agoura Hills Home Includes Solar Panels For $1.88M
  7. Solar-Powered Walnut Creek Home Has Large Lot, Bonus Office
  8. La Mesa Home With Flexible Space, Solar Panels: $1.6M
  9. Custom Concord Home Offers Curb Appeal, Solar Panels, Income Potential
  10. San Diego Home With Spacious Backyard, Solar Panels: $789K

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Source: Patch

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Microgrid communities are energy-resilient communities that can operate independently from a larger municipal electrical system when necessary.

What if your town doubled as a residential power grid?

For all of California’s many charms, living here isn’t always easy.

There’s the astronomical cost of housing, of course, and the seemingly constant threat of catastrophe, whether from earthquakes, fires or extreme heat. Especially as the effects of climate change increase, disaster often seems to be lurking right around the corner.

This newsletter recently covered the increasing popularity in California of “disaster-proof” homes, built to better withstand high winds and temperatures, and to limit entry points for wildfire embers. And last year, my colleague Ivan Penn wrote about Californians who, out of frustration with blackouts and rising utility prices in our warming world, are opting to live off the grid.

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Source: The New York Times

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The mechanical experience of installing arrays in various regions may differ only slightly based on their separate environments with distinct temperatures and weather conditions. The greater difference is in oversight from regional policies and permitting bodies.

How much do solar projects differ from California to Massachusetts?

The steps to building a solar array are mostly the same anywhere an installer is putting panels on a roof. They secure mounts and racking, attach modules and inverters and run wiring. It’s physically demanding work, but with the right experience, a solar installer could move anywhere in the country, pick up some panels and get them on a roof and quickly generating power.

The mechanical experience of installing arrays in various regions may differ only slightly based on their separate environments with distinct temperatures and weather conditions. The greater difference is in oversight from regional policies and permitting bodies.

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Source: Solar Power World

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The key to lowering the cost of electrification is energy management and demand response, starting with local solar and storage.

Local solar and storage are essential to the electrification movement

The movement to fully electrify our buildings and transportation sectors represents one of the best ways to decarbonize the American economy, but if we do not pursue the most cost-effective path, we could hit major potholes that slow down or derail our trek to net zero emissions.

With more and more electric vehicles on our roads every day, electricity demand is set to significantly grow, and not only that but higher peak demands could force trillions of dollars in grid infrastructure improvements. As we’ve seen with extreme weather leading to rolling blackouts just this past year, our electricity system even today is not equipped to handle increased electricity load, let alone what we expect from full scale electrification.

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Source: Utility Dive

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A recent successful pilot project in Tenant Creek demonstrated the value of having solar panels installed. However, navigating the red tape to have the solar installed was a difficult process.

Rooftop solar trial for remote first nations people

In solar-rich areas of Australia (like the Outback of the sparsely populated Northern Territory) electricity supply is tenuous and expensive, often supplied by polluting diesel generators. I have wondered why solar is not installed on every rooftop. Here is a possible explanation.

“In remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory, you don’t see solar on any rooftops. That’s a real problem. This part of Australia is dangerously hot in summer. And many people don’t have enough power to run vital appliances like the fridge and air conditioner. [If they have one]. Solar would be an ideal solution. Tennant Creek has over 300 days per year of sunshine with some of the clearest skies in the world, for instance.” The town is situated almost 1000 km south of Darwin (Northern Territory’s capital city) and has a population of 3000, half of them First Nations people.

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Source: Clean Technica

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