Right on cue after our Install Inequality feature this week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted three new programs to promote the installation of solar energy to serve customers in disadvantaged communities. “Transitioning to a clean economy must include all Californians. Targeting solar investments in low income and disadvantagedRead More

When the world’s fifth largest economy mandates the use of your product, as is case for solar in California starting in 2020, outlooks can shift dramatically. Shocking, I know. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the implications. 1. GTM boosts residential forecast by 14 percent Solar’s growth stall hasRead More

Despite gaining ground in 25 states in the country, the overall residential solar market declined in 2017 due in large part to a decline in the saturated California market. We noted this at the time and then somewhat glossed over it to highlight the countrywide expansion, but a new reportRead More

Gov. Brown signed AB 1070 (Gonzalez Fletcher) into law last week. The bill previously unanimously passed the California Assembly and Senate. AB 1070 creates new and important consumer protections measures, including standardized and simplified disclosures, for all residential solar customers. “CALSEIA greatly appreciates the efforts of Assemblywoman Gonzalez Fletcher to protectRead More

While the executive branch attempts to go backward with its energy goals, progressive states continue to march forward as the California Senate passed a bill that would give consumers more access to clean energy and provide the next critical piece for California to achieve its aggressive greenhouse gas and renewableRead More

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced that the state’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) successfully relaunched on May 1, 2017, amid heavy customer demand for program incentives, particularly for energy storage projects. A total of $50 million was awarded in the first incentive step to projects that include storage pairedRead More

The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee approved a bill this week that would empower consumers to take part in California’s clean energy future. SB 700, the Energy Storage Initiative, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would create a marketplace for local energy storage to bring down prices andRead More

Approximately half of U.S. households and businesses are unable to install private solar systems due to space limitations or insufficient sun exposure. To combat this, earlier this year, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) launched its Solar Choice program to extend the option for solar power to customers regardless of their locationRead More

SMA says it is the first inverter manufacturer to complete functional and safety testing with UL according to the UL 1741 SA (Supplement A) draft standard, which identifies inverter functions required for optimal grid stability. To achieve that, SMA enhanced the smart-inverter capabilities of its Sunny Boy TL-US series ofRead More

San Diego beat larger metro areas including San Francisco and Los Angeles to become the first city in California to reach the solar cap in their utility’s region. Sullivan Solar Power estimates that solar in San Diego has become a $1 billion a year industry, and the city is theRead More