California officially became the first state in the nation on Wednesday, Dec. 5 to require homes built in 2020 and later be solar powered.
Two commissioners and several public speakers lauded the new code as “a historic undertaking” and a model for the nation.
The new provisions are expected to dramatically boost the number of rooftop solar panels in the Golden State.
Last year, builders took out permits for more than 115,000 new homes — almost half of them for single-family homes.
One solar-industry representative said the net savings from adding solar power will be around $40 a month or nearly $500 a year.
The rules also allow for offsite solar production, so developments can build solar arrays feeding multiple homes or contract with utility-owned solar farms.
Several solar industry representatives speaking Wednesday supported the provisions, including a representative of Tesla, which builds battery storage systems for homes. »