(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PLMSBWP');     (function(a,b,c,d){     a='//tags.tiqcdn.com/utag/thunder/goldenstate/prod/utag.js';     b=document;c='script';d=b.createElement(c);d.src=a;d.type='text/java'+c;d.async=true;     a=b.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];a.parentNode.insertBefore(d,a);     })();
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9&appId=172847629912656"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

Next Year California Will Be the First State to Mandate Solar Power for New Homes

The effort is part of the state’s push to wean off fossil fuels and combat climate change.

Starting in 2020, California will require all new homes have some sort of power draw from solar energy. With housing affordability an ongoing issue in the Golden State, the new rule will increase home costs by about $9,500. However, the solar installation is estimated to yield a net savings of $19,000 over 30 years.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, “California already leads the U.S. in home solar panels. Solar makes up about one-seventh of its electricity supply, and that’s expected to grow for the state to meet its goal of 100% carbon-free power by 2045. Others may follow: Massachusetts is weighing a similar mandate, as is Maryland’s Montgomery County. “California has provided the template for a lot of U.S. clean energy policy,” says Hugh Bromley, an analyst for BloombergNEF.”

You can read more about the upcoming solar boom here.

More Stories
Adrenaline, Experiences, Outdoor Adventure

A Tahoe City Climber Makes a Record Accent to the Summit of Yosemite’s El Capitan

3,000 feet in under 24 hours.

Arts + Culture, Music + Podcasts

17-Year-Old Annika Rose Delivers New EP and Video

The simple yet captivating video for “I’m Better” was directed by Zhamak Fullad.

Farm + Table, Giving Back, Wine + Beer

Sierra Nevada Creates a Special Brew to Help Support Victims of the Recent Camp Fire

More than 1,400 breweries answered the call and carry the Resilience IPA.