In 2013 California To Stil Lead Solar Race

California is in the lead for solar panel installation, but New Jersey is a close second – and getting closer. New Jersey has intended for increased solar photovoltaic growth within the coming year. 

A key part of the state’s plan to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy is for many home owners and housing developments will be installing back-up solar generation, either grid-tied or off-grid, which can provide power during future major outages. Despite the close race, California is projected to lead the solar race again in 2013. 

Similar to California, New Jersey has launched their own initiatives to deploy solar photovoltaic systems and to diversify their energy portfolio. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in the second quarter of 2012, California again led the nation in installed solar capacity, with a total of 217 MW, while New Jersey had 103 MW.

Although New Jersey is making solar strides in the right direction, according to new research from Santa Clara, California-based NPD Solarbuzz, CA is projected to keep its position at number one in 2013, much thanks to its combination of policy initiatives. In 2012, energy efficient San Diego was named the country's top solar city, and the city is not ready to lose that title anytime soon.

California has one of the most ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements goals in the nation: It requires both public and investor-owned utilities to procure 33 percent of all electricity delivered to retail customers from renewable sources by 2020.

California’s Go Solar California Campaign contains several policy initiatives to help the state become more solar friendly. The California Solar Initiative (CSI), for example, is the largest rate-payer-funded solar rebate program in the US. It serves homeowners who are customers of investor-owned utilities, and has supported California’s baseline market demand for solar panels.

The New Solar Homes Partnership provides financial incentives and other support to builders of new, energy efficient solar homes. This, together with the CSI and the several other rebate programs offered through the dozens of publicly owned utilities in the state are key components of the Go Solar California initiative.

The CSI offers San Diego solar customers different incentive levels based on the performance of their solar panels, including such factors as installation angle, tilt, and location rather than system capacity alone. This performance framework ensures that California is generating clean solar energy and rewarding systems that can provide maximum solar generation.

In CA, Even The Prisons "Go Green"

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been going green, and the resulting estimated reduced electricity costs for the state are proof of its success.

California is known for its green initiatives. For example, just this year San Diego solar power projects have given the city the title of the country's most-solar city. However, the state wanted to reach out from just the cities and expand its solar initiatives. In order to preserve its reputation and reduce energy costs simultaneously, state and county officials, teamed with solar companies and utility systems, came up with the idea of powering correctional facilities using clean, green solar power, and using excess power for the local grid.

The prison sustainability initiative, which started in 2006, is now in full force. It is expected to save the state's taxpayers more than $45 million. Many of the prisons are located in remote, deserted areas, which in fact are prime locations for solar panel placement.

The solar prison-power plants are located at California Correctional Institution, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, Ironwood State Prison, and North Kern State Prison. The solar energy generated by the systems is approximately 25 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to

provide enough clean energy to power around 65,00 homes, and offset more than 730 million pounds of CO₂ emissions over the next twenty years. This offset is the equivalent of removing 72,000 cars off the road.

In total, the prison sites have over 83,000 panels installed on the sites. The installations in total cover 25 percent of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation energy costs and use.

Thanks to the solar prison initiatives, San Diego solar projects won't be the only ones making headlines! 

San Diego Area Synergistic Solar and Wind Project

Thanks to legislation, policies, and citizen motivation, California has become one of the top solar states in the country and San Diego solar has outreached any other city within the state. However, there is one problem about solar power: you need the sun, and half of the day is without it. The same critic has been given to wind power, but that you need the wind.

As solar and wind power are intermittent sources of renewable energy, grid operators may experience complications when trying to manage the supply and demand for electricity and keep it in balance.

In California, however, the answer was clear: build a combined solar and wind power plant. This type of combination is optimal for a region like Southern California when the winds blow strongly at night during all seasons and the sun is strongest during the day.

In Southern California in the Tehachapi-Mojave region a 140-megawatt Pacific Wind farm was placed nearby a 143-megawatt solar power station in Catalina to create a hybrid wind-solar power plant. The wind farm launched in August and the solar power station is estimated to begin generating power by the end of 2012.

The foothills of the mountains in the Tehachapi region roll into the Mojave desert. This natural environment creates some of the country’s highest winds in addition to the most intense sun exposure - making the region ideal for both wind and solar power plants.

The synergistic effect of wind and solar power combined in one project not only allows for more efficient energy generation but also a more efficient use of transmission lines that carry the generated electricity to the national grid. In fact, a transmission line is currently being built to jointly carry approximately 5,000 megawatts of the renewable energy from the region to the coastal cities. These types of lines will be used 15 to 25 percent more than tradition solar- or wind-only lines.

Solaire energy systems combined with wind is an innovative approach to more efficiently generating renewable energy. However, it may not be appropriate in all regions within the country. The combination of mountains and desert in the Tehachapi-Mojave, for example, are perfect for such a venture.

California simplifies solar panel permit process

It is projected that over one million more solar panels will be installed on roofs in California over the next few years, thanks to California's Governor, Jerry Brown. Governor Brown is helping solar power San Diego ventures, as well as other cities statewide, in their advancement through the signing the California Senate Bill 1222.

The California Senate Bill 1222 simplifies the process of acquiring the permits – business, residential, or other – needed to install rooftop solar panels. The bill will limit and standardize the fees that a county or city can charge within the permit process. Although the cost of acquiring permits differs across the state, the new bill states that in general, “high permitting fees increase the costs of installations and reduce the ability for solar to be deployed across all income spectrums.”

Under the bill, it will be easier for all residential and business owners to obtain permits to install solar panels. Following the permit process, they can then continue to contact a solar panel installation company, such as Solaire Energy Systems, to install the solar panels on their roofs. The solar panels will then lower their utility bills and help California lessen its carbon footprint.

Governor Brown, in addition to the California Senate Bill 1222, also signed 18 additional new clean energy bills into state law. If California wishes to become a true green economy, then such legislative action is necessary.

California’s top solar city: San Diego

In January 2012, a report was published by Environment California naming San Diego California’s top solar city. San Diego solar usage came in first when compared to the state’s other cities in terms of government, commercial, and residential solar installations.

San Diego also leads in the total amount solar power generated. The city has completed over 4,500 projects and generates around 37 megawatts of solar power. For reference, 1 megawatt is equal to the power used by approximately 750 homes. 

In addition to lowering the state's dependence on non-renewable energy sources, solaire energy systems are are also for the economy. The state’s solar installation market is projected to grow. Experts predict 1 million residential solar projects will be completed by 2020, which will add $30 billion to the economy and create 20,000 jobs each year.

Both the State and the Federal Government provides subsidies and incentives to residents who decide to invest in solar energy. Approximately 40 percent of the entire cost of installation can be covered. From there, it takes around three to seven years for the return on investment. 

Solar panel systems are becoming the norm for many home and business owners in California, and they have become increasingly in style as well. Not only are they popular, but innovative types of solar panels these days permit solar power systems to generate near 100 percent of energy needs.

Poll reveals voters strongly support solar energy use in the U.S.

Nine out of ten voters believe it's important for the U.S. to develop and use more solar energy, according to a new survey. The independent polling firm Hart Research Associates, found likely voters in the 2012 election overwhelmingly support solar energy and would like to see the government do more to help the industry grow in the U.S.

This is good news for solar companies in San Diego county, the region with the highest concentration of solar energy companies in the country. Especially considering the support was strong across the political spectrum with 84 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of independents, and 98 percent of Democrats agreeing that the U.S. needs more solar power. 

"American voters have spoken loud and clear – they love solar and they want more of it. Republicans, independents, and Democrats are unified in calling on Congress to increase our use of solar energy in America," said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association in a press release. 

In the survey, almost four out of five of voters said the government should provide tax credits and financial incentives to encourage the development and use of solar energy. Voters' favorable view of solar translates directly into widespread bipartisan support for federal incentives fostering solar energy. Sixty-seven percent of swing voters preferred solar above any other energy source to receive tax and financial incentives. 

The poll consisted of 1,206 U.S. voters, including a heavy sampling of swing voters, who made up up two-thirds of all polled individuals. According to Hart Research, the swing voter sample included only respondents who did not indicate a strong or consistent partisan voting history. The poll was conducted online September 4 to 9 and was commissioned by SEIA. 

Today more than 100,000 Americans work at 5,600 solar energy companies across the nation in all 50 states. The industry more than doubled the amount of solar installed in the U.S. in the second quarter of this year compared to 2011, and growth is expected to continue in the second half of 2012. 

Industry experts say the average system price of a San Diego solar system has dropped 50 percent since 2007. Innovations in system financing have made solar more affordable than ever before. Today, major U.S. brands rely on solar to keep costs low for consumers. 

According to the press release, the top 10 states for total solar electric capacity are (in descending order): California, New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina.