California’s New Solar Bill is Yet Another Reason to Put Up Panels

California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill X1 15 into law yesterday, finalizing yet another financial incentive for homeowners to go solar.

The bill, penned by Assemblyman Jerry Hill of San Mateo, California, aims to create thousands of green jobs and boost “tax certainty” for solar electrical installations.

Among other benefits, the bill outlines the kinds of financing you can use as incentives for your solar project.

It also clears up the old issue of whether a solar panel system you’ve purchased along with a structure retains its property tax exclusion. It does now, says the bill.

That exemption goes to current or future owners in sale-leaseback deals or other transactions.

Solar has historically had a lot of red tape associated with permitting, tax codes, city regulations and so forth.

With a strong effort to clear such ambiguities up, California solar incentives become considerably more attractive.

To get pricing on solar in your area, click here.

On top of the existing perks, the bill also encourages huge, profitable solar companies to head out west.

SunEdison, for example, relocated from Baltimore to Belmont, California as a result of the bill. With them they bring 100 employees and plans to hire 400 more.

Before AB X1 15, SunEdison reserved millions of dollars for California solar transactions. They had also postponed plans to invest $1.2 million in future solar projects.

Now, the goal is to invest that money in California’s economy, creating green jobs and helping more homeowners generate clean power from the sun.

Indeed, this is a triumph for the state. Hats off to Governor Brown and solar contractors everywhere.

Posted on June 29th in Solar Funding, Solar News by Brittany.