California Leads in Solar Rooftops

A combination of state and local incentives and building code mandates has helped California far outpace other states in residential rooftop solar permits.

1 minute read

December 17, 2024, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Photovoltaic solar panels on red-tile rooftops in California neighborhood.

Simone / Adobe Stock

An analysis from ResiClub and BatchService reveals that California leads the nation in residential rooftop solar installations, reports Lance Lambert in Fast Company.

“The state has led the nation with renewable energy policies, including generous state and local incentives, tax credits, and mandates such as the 2020 building code requirement for all new California homes to include solar panels,” Lambert explains. Santa Clara County, whose utility offers an additional incentive for solar panels, has the most permits in the state, followed by Los Angeles County and Riverside County. “In 2019, Zillow economists found that homes that year with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar panels.”

The state with the next-highest number of permits is Arizona, followed by Texas.

Monday, December 16, 2024 in Fast Company

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