California goes solar

A new law will require new homes in California to have solar panels by 2020.

The new homes currently built in the Imperial Valley don’t have solar panels, but that wil change in less than two years. Raising home prices for buyers. But there are some benefits including long term savings on electric energy.

But one local solar energy consultant says, not everyone will be able to afford it. “Number one, that’s gonna add to the cost of the house in the long run. Even though you will save, the tenant will save on utility cost, however it will add to the cost initially. And I’m now sure how low income people in California will be able to afford housing in that point and time,” said Sam Couchman, Director of Community Relations for 8minuteenergy Renewables.

James Garcia, a local real estat brokers says the market will dictate the costs of housing. “The market is moving you know. There’s still an opportunity there. The builders. There’s a housing shortage, that’s the big thing. And so, throughout California. And so there is a need for houses.”

According to Couchman, utility companies would take the biggest hit from homes going solar. “If half the people in town stopped paying the IID, or selling power to the IID, but not buying power from the IID, that could be a problem for our area. Since we’re a small area and a low income area, it could have a lot of problem.”