If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news — especially if you’ve been thinking about going solar — you might already know about the potential solar tariff. But in case you haven’t heard, here’s a brief overview: A petition by bankrupt Suniva and SolarWorld Americas was brought to the United States International Trade Commission that states that foreign imports were hurting their businesses, as well as asks for import relief. These companies want tariffs…

On January 16, Mark Ferron, a commissioner with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), stepped down from his post to devote time to his fight with prostate cancer. Upon leaving, Ferron issued a letter to the CPUC urging his fellow regulators to support rooftop solar in the Golden State and resist pressure from utilities to cut solar net metering rebates. In addition, Ferron also noted several things about the state of California’s solar industry and offered…

A new agreement has been announced between 14 nations that would drastically cut tariffs on environmental goods such as solar water heaters and wind turbines. The pledge was made by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and Chinese Taipei. TheHill.com reports that the agreement asked its signees to lower tariffs on 50 different environmental goods. Currently, trade…

Four solar photovoltaic (PV) plants located in San Bernardino have been commissioned and will be selling electricity to Southern California Edison (SCE). The plants, which are being operated by Sustainable Power Group, have a generating capacity of 7.8 megawatts (MW) and will reduce carbon emissions by over 10,000 tons per year. According to a press release, the new plants are made up of 25,920 solar modules that were produced by Canadian Solar, one of the world’s largest…

If you don’t have solar yet, you’re completely reliant on the power grid and the utility companies that establish rates. But what if you could break free from that dependence and regain control of your home, as well as your bills for the future? With solar, you can. Solar Panels The possibilities with solar are practically endless. When you decide to make the switch, you will need to determine what your goals are and how solar can…

Many people in the Bay Area and Sacramento region know about the benefits that solar can offer their home, but they might not be as clear on just how solar could be used to improve their business. If you’re a business and property owner, it’s time to learn more about how solar can make your life easier. Reduce Operating Costs & Take Advantage of Attractive Incentives Running a business is hard enough as it is, but when…

With homeowners everywhere from Northern California making the switch to solar energy, you might be thinking about it too. Learning more about the benefits of solar power for your home can help you make the decision that’s right for you. Why Now is a Great Time to go Solar Although you may have thought that going solar is a large investment, there’s actually never been a better time to make the switch. Affordable Solar System Options Solar…

Summer’s officially here and although temperatures were already high before June 21st, now they’re only going to continue climbing. While that can translate to some quality time outdoors, it also means that indoors your air conditioner is running at full blast. What does that mean for your monthly energy bills? Energy Use During the Summer Here in the greater Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area, although there are distinct winter and summer seasons, the majority…

Despite widespread use, there are a lot of myths solar energy. At West Coast Solar, we are happy to help educate our customers across Northern California about solar energy. Myth 1: Solar panels don’t produce much power in the winter Solar electric systems produce significant amounts of power in the winter. Lower panel temperatures in Northern California actually boost the conductivity of the solar panels, enabling them to produce large amounts of power throughout the…