CALIFORNIA
Solar in California
The number of sunny days per year ranges between 250 and 290 for most locations in the Golden State, placing California among the top five sunny states.* In contrast, the national average is only 210 sunny days per year.
According to Project Sunroof, a whopping 91% of the buildings in California are solar-viable, with a total of 11.5 billion square feet of roof space fit for solar installations.*
This promising data, coupled with the state’s commitment to reach a 100% zero-carbon energy goal by 2045 and multiple statewide clean energy incentives, makes it easy to understand why California occupies the first place of the Solar States Top 10 .* Currently, over 8.5 million homes in California rely on solar energy.
Solar potential in California?
California’s total solar energy production (both photovoltaic and thermal) for 2020 reached close to 30,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh), or over 15% of the total energy the state had generated. The state has 770 active solar power plants, with an installed capacity approaching 14,000 megawatts.
California’s abundant sunshine, combined with the state’s high electricity costs of nearly 22.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, makes solar panel installation an attractive option for Californians.* Furthermore, following state legislation, all homes built after January 1, 2020, must have a solar system.
California residents who invest in solar panels can expect their home PV system to pay for itself within 5.4 to 6.6 years on average.* Over 25 years after installing a home solar system, the average California homeowner may save up to $58,000. *
An additional bonus of having a home solar system in California is extra energy independence. Every year, summer heatwaves bring the danger of power outages to the Golden State. A solar system with energy storage will keep working even while the grid is down.
Finally, a home solar system reduces a household’s carbon emissions by about 80% on average.* Switching to solar energy is a win-win for both property owners and the planet.
Cost of solar in California?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include:
Type of installation (e.g., roof mount vs. ground mount)
Roof type and angle
Quality of the solar panels
Interconnection costs
In California, we found that the investment to own a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,550 to $55,300, or in other words from $2.51 to $11.06 per watt—and that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
Over the last decade, solar installation costs dropped by 70% on average,* making home solar system installation a lot more financially viable than in 2010. A California homeowner today can expect to pay around $14,000 on average for a home solar system.*
Meanwhile, government incentives spur more and more Californians to go solar. California residents can enjoy a 30% federal tax credit* on solar system installation.
Additionally, the state’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program allows customers to feed any excess energy their solar system generates back to their local utility grid and receive a credit on electric bills.* Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 is scheduled to go into effect in 2023, which will impact the value of these electric bill credits.
Advantages?
Here are some of the advantages of going solar in California:
Lower electricity bills: Solar panels can generate electricity for your home, which can help you save money on your electricity bills. The average Arizona homeowner can save up to $30,000 on their electricity bills over the lifetime of their solar system.
Increased home value: Solar panels can add value to your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers. Studies have shown that homes with solar panels sell for an average of $15,000 more than homes without solar panels.
Reduced carbon footprint: Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy that can help you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. Solar panels produce no emissions, which can help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Financial incentives: California offers a number of financial incentives that can help offset the cost of solar panels. These incentives include the federal solar tax credit, state rebates, and utility company incentives.
Home solar looks even more attractive considering that California homeowners who choose to install a PV system can enjoy 30% in federal solar tax credit.* Additionally, the state offers lucrative solar incentives that include 25% (up to $1000) state solar tax credit, property tax exemption on added value, and 5.6% sales tax exemption.
Disadvantages?
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Shade: Solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity. If your home is in a shady area, or things are covering your panels you may not be able to generate as much electricity with solar panels.
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Weather: Some Solar panels can be damaged by hail, snow, and strong winds. However, our solar panels are designed to withstand these conditions and even extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tornado, and blizzards.
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Panels aesthetic: Our solar panels are different. They are all black, sleek, and thin. They have a more modern look. Some people find solar panels on homes unattractive and if your feel like that we also offer Ground mount installations. It’s a great option if you have open land that receives good sunlight.
California state policies?
Net metering: Net metering is a policy that allows solar customers to sell excess electricity back to their utility company at the retail rate. This means that if you generate more electricity from your solar panels than you use, you can sell the excess electricity back to your utility company. This can help to offset the cost of your solar system.
Property tax exemption: Solar panels are exempt from property taxes in California. This means that you will not have to pay property taxes on the value of your solar panels. This can save you money on your property taxes each year.
Sales tax exemption: Solar panels are exempt from sales tax in California. This means that you will not have to pay sales tax on the purchase of your solar panels. This can save you money on the cost of your solar system.
Investment tax credit: The federal government offers an investment tax credit (ITC) of 30% for solar energy systems installed in California. This means that if you install a solar system in California, you can claim a tax credit of 30% of the cost of your system. This can save you a significant amount of money on your taxes.
Rebate programs: There are a number of rebate programs available for solar energy systems in California. These rebate programs can help to offset the cost of your solar system.
Maintaining solar panels?
Solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. However, you should have them cleaned every few years to remove dirt, dust, and debris. You can clean your solar panels yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
What's the best way to go solar?
Are you interested in going solar in California? If so, we can help!
Before going solar, be sure to keep in mind factors that will affect the output of clean energy to your home. For instance, South-facing roofs generate the most energy, followed by west-facing roofs. North-facing roofs generate the least amount of energy. We look into multiple aspects to make sure you have the most effective setup such as roof orientation, roof pitch, shade, and weather.
We offer a free virtual consultation and savings report to help you determine if solar is right for you. We will also help you access solar incentives and rebates to reduce the cost of installation.
Freedom Forever solar panels system is Top-Tier and backed by a 25-year full system production guarantee. We also offer a satisfaction guarantee, so you can be sure that you are making the right decision and test it out stress free.
If you are interested in learning more about solar power in California, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!