In this article, TENCO SOLAR covers everything homeowners need to know about California’s solar panel mandate, including: What is the California solar panel mandate? How will the mandate impact homeowners? Are there exemptions to California’s solar panel mandate? How can homeowners prepare for the mandate? Benefits of solar panel installation Where to find solar panels in California In California’s efforts to move toward using renewable energy, the state has enforced a solar panel mandate on homeowners. Many California residents are left wondering what the solar mandate means and how it wil ..read more

The USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grant funding to rural small businesses and agricultural producers across the U.S. to be used for implementing renewable energy systems or making improvements to overall energy efficiency. In 2008, Congress created REAP to provide funding to farmers and rural business owners who chose to invest in sustainability practices. According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), “REAP has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loan guarantees to fund thousands of renewable energy projects across the country ..read more

Assembly Bill 2143 (AB2143), which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, defines any solar project that accesses public funds or programs as a public works project. This law will affect almost all commercial solar projects in California, as solar installations within the service area of an investor-owned utility (IOU) are typically interconnected through a net metering/billing agreement, selling excess solar-generated electricity back to the utility, which is considered accessing public funds. There are a few exceptions to Assembly Bill 2143, including: Residential project with less than 15kW ..read more

Solar on Multi-Family Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program provides financial incentives to property owners for installing solar energy photovoltaic (PV) systems on qualified, multi-family, affordable housing. The California Public Utilities Commission will provide up to $100 million annually for 10 years under SOMAH to fund 300 megawatts of solar by 2030. What Is SOMAH’s Goal?  SOMAH aims to provide clean power and energy cost savings to California’s affordable housing residents by incentivizing solar installation on multi-family housing in low-income and disadvantaged communities.&n ..read more

The Energy Communities Adder of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 stated that facilities are eligible for a 10%-point increase (30% → 40%) in the value of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for projects placed in service in 2023 or later if they’re in: A brownfield site A metropolitan or non-metropolitan statistical area that: has, or had at any time since 2010, 0.17% or more direct employment or 25% or more local tax revenues related to the extraction, processing, transport, or storage of coal, oil, or natural gas, AND had an unemployment rate above the national average in the previous year ..read more

Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards required all newly constructed homes and multifamily buildings of less than three stories to include solar photovoltaic systems. The 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24), which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, extended California’s solar mandate to all new multifamily buildings of more than three stories and many commercial buildings, and requires builders to allow for the addition of battery storage for these systems. Who Creates California’s Energy Efficiency Standards? Since its creation in 1978, the ..read more

As a climate leader in the U.S., California is constantly striving to improve the environment for the health, enjoyment, and future of its residents. Part of its push for cleaner air is the new Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) program, which targets emissions from warehouses in the South Coast (large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley). On Aug. 2, 2022, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) of California began phasing in new regulations that will require warehouse owners and opera ..read more

Homes and businesses that switch to solar panels experience many benefits, especially in the Southern California area. Using solar batteries as part of your solar panel system will maximize these benefits. TENCO SOLAR is here for all your solar panel needs, including battery storage. With over two decades of experience, we’re the right team to ensure your transition to this valuable renewable energy is seamless. Get started with TENCO SOLAR by calling 888-507-6937 or contacting us online. The Purpose of Solar Charge Controllers Solar charge controllers are vital to the performance of your sol ..read more

If you currently have or are considering investing in solar panels, it’s critical to understand the latest Net Billing 3.0 proposal from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Combined with a drastic bill credit reduction for customers who sell electricity back to the grid, this proposal significantly increased the payback time for a solar project. The Net Billing 3.0 proposal is expected to go into effect on April 15, 2023. Net Billing 2.0 vs. Net Billing 3.0 Net Energy Metering started in 1996 with California Code SB 656. The original idea was to stimulate solar growth by incent ..read more