Posts by West Coast Solar

Residents of San Diego received good news on October 24, when the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) agreed to extend the residential rebate program under the California Solar Initiative (CSI) for customers of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), which administers the San Diego rebate program for SDG&E, reports that $5…

Recently on this blog, we’ve tackled some of the most common misconceptions about solar energy solutions, using data and statistics to support the fact that this alternative power option is cost-effective, good for the environment and able to successfully operate even in cloudy climates. Another myth that has been perpetuated over the past few years…

Recently on this blog, we’ve been reporting on the plethora of exciting solar energy initiatives happening in the Golden State, and as of yesterday, there’s another bit of exciting news to add to the growing list. Clean Power Finance (CPF), a San Francisco-based financial services and software provider for the solar industry and capital markets, announced…

A retiring California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) member has issued a final address in which he warns his fellow members to protect the state’s solar assets. The San Francisco Gate reports that Mark Ferron, who will be retiring due to a prolonged battle with prostate cancer, stated in his address that it was up to the CPUC to…

Construction has started on a solar energy project in Calipatria, California, near the Mexican border. The new plant will provide enough power for 60,000 homes while employing 800 people during the construction stage. Located a few hours east of San Diego, the developers will be selling electricity to San Diego Gas & Electric under a 25-year…

Most people tend to think of solar power as something only wealthy and upper-middle class homeowners are able to take advantage of, but that simply isn’t true anymore. Several economic conditions have converged to make this renewable energy source more accessible to low-income residents. One of those factors is the availability government subsidies specifically set aside to…

Summer is here, and Californians are going to be turning their air conditioners on en masse to keep their homes livable. This is an understandable impulse, but it’s one that is fraught with consequences. Air conditioners are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home, which means power consumption skyrockets in the summer months…

The Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) in Clovis, California, will soon complete construction of a 5.86-megawatt (MW) solar installation that will provide electricity for nearly 38,000 students. The system was financed by a voter-approved bond initiative that will ultimately save the district $2.7 million a year in energy expenses. The CUSD solar installation is expected…

Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) takes a reading of the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the top of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. This test was carried out last week, and the results were troubling for those who are concerned about the economic and ecological effects climate change. NOAA…

One piece of conventional wisdom that gets passed around among Bay Area solar circles is the notion that solar panels need to be routinely cleaned, or homeowners who have rooftop PV systems will experience a loss of efficiency. The idea is that dust and dirt accumulating on the surface of the panels blocks sunlight, thereby…

Thermophotovoltaics are seen by many in the solar community as having huge potential for increasing the efficiency of solar cells. With commercially available photovoltaic modules, a semiconductor absorbs infrared light and converts it into electricity. Because infrared rays represent only a fraction of the energy emitted by the sun, this means that solar panels generally…

In late January, the City of Sacramento and Ygrene Energy Fund, a provider of clean energy finance programs for local governments, announced in a press release a new initiative to bring green technology upgrades to the metro’s businesses and residences through 100 percent private funding. Clean Energy Sacramento will enable property owners to make energy efficiency, renewable power…