According to USA Today, California lawmakers plan to raise the state's clean energy mandate by 50 percent toward the end of this year. The changes this will include more wind turbines, larger solar farms and more geothermal energy use. Many are wondering, though, will rooftop solar be a part of the change as well?
As of now, California has one of the most ambitious renewable energy mandates in the country, requiring 33 percent of the state's energy to be derived from renewables by 2020. This number was deemed too small in January by Governor Jerry Brown, who called for an increase of 50 percent by 2030. He reached this decision after many California utility companies were on track to meet the goal of 33 percent well ahead of schedule, hoping they could make even more improvements in the same timeframe.
The increase to 50 percent was passed in the California Senate in June and is currently moving through the Assembly.
Some believe rooftop solar panels should be a part of this change as well. Recent research conducted by clean-tech consulting firm GTM Research has found that more than 2,500 megawatts of power generated by rooftop solar panels have been installed in 300,000 homes and businesses since 2014. This is enough to power over half a million average homes for a year.
Although the installation of these solar panels continues to surge, whether they are a part of this initiative or not remains to be seen.
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