We all want lower solar panel costs, right?  Well, in Washington, D.C., new legislation has been introduced to help streamline local permitting of solar arrays, allowing property owners to go solar with less expense, hassle and delay.

Proposed Federal Legislation to help lower solar panel costs

The 10 Million Solar Roofs Act, a bipartisan proposal, would literally award communities that make it easier to obtain permits for solar installations with grants and subsidies.  Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) hope that the proposed bill helps boost the quickly growing solar industry in the U.S., while encouraging consumers that would otherwise be wary of solar panel costs.

In a press release, Sen. Sanders said:

“This legislation will make it more affordable for families and businesses to install solar, by helping communities reduce the costs associated with solar energy permitting. … [The bill] sets strong targets for American solar energy production, to ensure we compete vigorously with China and Europe for solar energy jobs.”

Solar panel costs have already fallen over the past few years as demand and production have risen, the cost of manufacturing materials has fallen, and tax incentives have helped defray investment required for the renewable energy resource.  The number of both rooftop solar panels and utility scale solar power plants has dramatically increased as a result.  Yet, only about 1% of all energy consumed in the U.S. is from solar power.

The 10 Million Solar Roofs Act would address another component of the expense associated with solar panels -  the bureaucratic red tape that property owners must navigate in order to obtain permits for solar installation.  An industry document (PDF) from the Solar Energy Industries Association determined that a streamlined regulatory system for installing and permitting solar panels would help make solar affordable for 50% of American homes:

The policy goal of supporting solar is to create the scale necessary to achieve grid parity, the point where solar stands on its own as an economic choice for millions of homeowners, without the need for subsidies. While solar equipment prices are falling, the total installed cost of residential solar is falling more slowly because of inefficient local permitting and inspection processes. It is appropriate and necessary for the Department of Energy (DOE) to address this problem because DOE has already built the tools to quickly streamline local permitting and inspection processes without sacrificing safety.

The effect of current solar permitting costs amounts to a $1 billion tax on the industry over five years.  As a result, American solar manufacturers have a hard time keeping costs down, particularly relative to countries like Japan and Germany where there are zero permitting requirements for solar panels on homes.

If the 10 Million Solar Roofs legislation passes, the average consumer can expect to save $2,500 in solar panel installation costs.

Vista Del Verde in Yoba Linda California includes solar roofs

What if, when you bought a new home, solar energy was part of the overall package?  That is, along with a garage, windows and roof, can you imagine if solar panels were part of the deal?

Well, its happening in California.  At “The Preserve at Vista Del Verde,” in Yorba Linda, a community of 90 homes will start sales in September 2010.  You will be able to move into a new, solar-powered home.  Instead of investing in the cost of installing solar panels yourself, the rooftop panels will already be there.  All you’ll pay for is clean solar electricity.

Solar panels on rooftops is a smart way to save energy

The Preserve will be designed and constructed by Toll Brothers, while the solar rooftop installations will be handled by PetersenDean.  SunRun will handle the solar service for the community.

According to the official website:

The Preserve at Vista Del Verde is located in the final village of Vista Del Verde in Yorba Linda. This unique single-family community neighbors Lakeview Elementary School and enjoys breathtaking city light views. The Preserve will offer 7 new home designs ranging from 2,267 to 2,703 square feet. Convenient to Orange County’s entertainment, recreation, and fine dining, The Preserve homeowners will also benefit from wonderful amenities including the beautiful 18-hole championship Black Gold Golf Club, extensive trail systems connecting to Chino Hills State Park and Carbon Canyon Regional Park, picturesque vista points, and two neighborhood parks all within walking distance.

The solar rooftop option will allow new home buyers to pay a fixed rate of only $42 a month for electricity, guaranteed for the next 20 years.  Considering the average monthly utility bills of homes of this size, savings will be anywhere from $50-100 each month.  Just think how fast $1200 a year will add up in savings over 20 years (how does $24,000 sound?)

No need to worry about maintenance or insurance for your home solar power system.  SunRun has that covered.  All you need to do is select the solar energy feature on your new California home and then move in and watch the savings start accumulating!

For more information, be sure to check out these websites:

• SunRun
• Toll Brothers
• PetersenDean

California is leading efforts to install solar roofs

Governor Schwarzenegger is a green Republican.  No matter your political leanings, many in California are very proud of his efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming.  Recently, Schwarzenegger gained the appreciation of environmentalists and others concerned about the quality of life in the Golden State and around the world when he announced a plan to reduce emissions to 1990 levels – the equivalent of a 4 ton CO2 emission reduction per person!

This plan compliments the state’s Million Solar Roofs program.  Legislation authorizing the program was finally passed in 2006 after Gov. Schwarzenegger pushed for 2 years to create a plan to make California a leader in solar energy.

Can you imagine a million solar roofs like this one?

Earlier this month, Southern California Edison announced a major step towards accomplishing the goals of California’s Million Solar Roof program.  SCE helped with the installation of nearly 2 square miles of solar panels on the roof of the distribution center at Prologis in Fontana, California.

What does 2 square miles of solar panels look like?  How about over 33,700 solar panels on 600,000 square feet.  It boggles my mind!  This is the largest solar roof installation in the state of California!

This single installation will generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power 1,300 homes – the equivalent of a free-standing solar power facility.  Simply amazing!

The Million Solar Roofs program aims to provide 3,000 MWof energy (the Prologis solar roof will create 9 MW of energy, for perspective).  With this goal, greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by 3 million tons.  What does that equal?  Its like taking a million cars off the road!  Just in California (quick question – would they even notice if that many fewer cars were on the road?)

The Million Solar Roofs program certainly does establish California as a solar energy leader in the U.S.  I’m looking forward to more updates on its progress over the next few years, and hopefully more states will follow suit.