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For years, those against the widespread adoption of solar power for homes have argued that solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are too expensive for the majority of homeowners.  They claim that the only families who can take advantage of the cost savings from solar energy are those with high incomes.

Not so, says the Center for American Progress (CAP), a think tank based in Washington, D.C. By analyzing data about solar electric system installations across the country, they found that in many areas, including California, the distribution of rooftop PV mirrored the population in terms of income distribution.

Relying on Solar Data from Reputable Sources

The study used information from three principal sources:

The study evaluated the median household income of each zip code where solar panel systems were installed and compared the distribution of the installations to the way income is spread over the population. They found that there was a significant overlap between the two.

In other words, those communities that make up the largest portion of the state’s population, the middle class, accounted for the largest percentage of PV installations.

Solar Panel Facts and California’s Middle Class

In California specifically, the think tank found that 67.16 percent of the systems installed under the program were within communities with median household incomes between $40,000 and $90,000. Communities exceeding $90,000 in median household income accounted for only 28.63 percent of the installations, while areas with median incomes under $40,000 made up about 4 percent of those receiving rebates under CSI.

Similar results were found in Arizona and New Jersey.

CAP also determined that the percentage of solar panel installations for middle class households under the California rebate program has grown from 65 percent of installations in 2009 to 70 percent in 2013.

Solar Energy Benefits All Communities

Solar energy provides benefits for customers on both a micro and macro scale. Of course, individual families and businesses can enjoy lower electricity costs by switching to solar power. On a greater scale, the advantages of solar power can benefit our communities as a whole with improved air quality, local job growth and lowered carbon emissions.

However, this will only be realized when as many people as possible invest in solar panels for their rooftops. As solar power becomes even more accessible to the middle and lower classes, achieving these economic and environmental goals will become more of a reality.

Orange County and Los Angeles solar energy shouldn’t simply be a luxury that only high-income Californians can afford. In order for renewable energy to make a significant impact on the state economy and greenhouse gas emissions, it needs to be accessible to the majority of residents.

Due to the fact that solar panel prices have come down so steeply in the last decade, as well as federal, state and local government incentives, more families have been able to switch to solar and save on their electricity bills.

Solar Energy is Accessible to All in California

Low-income earners still struggle to gain access to this technology. That is why Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 217 (AB 217). This law directs the California Public Utilities Commission to extend two measures that have been crucial to providing low-income families with the opportunity to adopt solar energy solutions for their homes and apartments.

Those two measures consist of the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) and Multifamily Affordable Solar Homes (MASH) programs. Managed by nonprofit Grid Alternatives, the goal of each program was to set aside funding from the California Solar Initiative (CSI) funding to be used for low-income families.

In total, these communities would receive $108 million in rebates for the purchase of solar panel systems, facilitating the installation of 50 megawatts of solar generating capacity.

Solar Programs for Low-Income Residents Extended

The initial time frame for the SASH and MASH programs was set to expire on December 31, 2016, at which point funding would no longer be distributed. AB 217 extends that date by five years to 2021.

Additionally, the law makes provisions to provide job training and education for low-income workers who would like to pursue a career in the solar installation field.

How Solar Benefits Californian Communities

The benefits of a solar electric system for low-income families are clear, as these citizens have the most to gain from saving money on energy consumption. By deriving their energy needs from sunlight and selling excess power back to the grid, they’ll be able to effectively run their meter backwards while also claiming federal and state tax credits and rebates, including the California Solar Initiative incentives described above.

It should also be noted that low-income communities are often disproportionately affected by the public health issues that arise from burning fossil fuels to produce electricity. Los Angeles and Orange County solar are the best ways to mitigate and eventually eliminate such externalities.

Solar energy is beneficial for many reasons. Not only does it lessen your environmental impact, but it can save you a great deal of money while also adding resale value to your home.

If you are reading this, you may already be convinced that it’s time to install solar panels. But is your roof ready to go solar as well? By answering the following four questions, you will find out if solar panels can be easily installed on your roof.

1. What type of roof do you have?

Asphalt shingle (sometimes referred to as a comp or merely shingles) is the most common roofing material around and, luckily, is the easiest type for solar installers to work on. Flat roofs also provide a good situation for solar panel installation, though you may have to factor in additional costs for mounting and racking equipment so that the panels can be angled towards the sun. AMECO Solar can install panels on most roofs with concrete or ceramic Spanish tile.

Depending on the condition of your roof, our solar installers may be able to work on more delicate roofing materials like slate or wooden shake. We can usually tell if it’s a possibility by checking out your roof on Google Earth, but sometimes a more in-depth roof evaluation is needed.

2. How old is your roof?

If your roof does not need to be replaced for another 10-15 years, then it’s a great time to consider going solar.

Aging roofs can prove to be challenging and sometimes increase the chance of damage occurring during installation. The biggest challenge is that it will significantly increase your costs in the long run. When you decide to reroof, it’s costly to remove and reinstall the solar panels. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend waiting until you are ready to lay down a new roof and coordinate the solar installation to occur at the same time.

Not sure when your roof was last replaced? One of our consultants can survey your roof and determine if it provides a good situation for solar panels. If your roof needs to be replaced in order to accommodate your solar system, there is a possibility that this added expense will qualify for the federal 30% solar tax credit.

3. Which way was does your roof face?

Since more energy will be produced if the solar panels are exposed to sunlight all day long, south-facing roofs produce the highest amount of solar energy in California. East or west facing roofs also allow solar panels to soak up a significant amount of the sun and provide enough energy to power your home. If the best part of your roof faces north, you may not have the best situation for solar.

4. Do you have enough room on your roof for solar panels?

It is a solar installer’s dream to have a roof that is perfectly sloped with yards and yards of uninterrupted space. Then, solar panels can be laid down in nicely organized rows to offset your electricity usage.

A roof with a lot of obstacles (such as roof vents or skylights) can make solar installation complicated.  This will most likely increase the price. Some roofs may have so many obstacles that we can only install a small number of panels and they won’t make much of a dent in your electric bill.

What is the best roof for solar panels?

In a perfect world, a south facing roof made of comp shingle with 10-15 years of life in it would be the best roof. But the world ain’t perfect! Really, many roofs with different angles, made of different materials, and of different ages, make great candidates for solar panel installation.

In nearly 40 years of business, we’ve come across a lot of different roofs and have been able to install on the majority of them. If your home is in the Los Angeles or Orange County areas, you can get our expert opinion by contacting us and scheduling a solar evaluation.

Recently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of the U.S. Interior Department, held an auction for the first group of Solar Energy Zones (SEZ) on the western side of the United States. SEZs are areas of federal land that have been designated as prime locations for the construction of a solar generating plant.

Solar Developers Interested, No Bids Yet

The SEZ at the San Luis Valley site in Colorado was chosen due to its proximity to existing transmission infrastructure and the minimal environmental impact that it would have on the land.

It seemed like a great place for a developer to invest in a solar plant that would deliver clean, renewable energy to the electric grid. Even though many developers expressed interested in the project beforehand, the auction did not attract any bidders.

Issues with Solar Auction Process

Some  industry observers have speculated that potential developers were dissuaded from bidding because the rules and project specifics had yet to be finalized at the time of auction.

This was only the first of several auctions the BLM will be holding in the coming months for its 19 Solar Energy Zones (three of which are located in California). Because of the recent no-bid conclusion, the BLM will go back to the drawing board and revise their strategy for upcoming auctions.

How Rooftop Solar Differs from Utility Solar Installs

While solar installations of all sizes are important for our energy future and allow us rely less on dirty energy, smaller scale solar installations are typically easier to complete than utility scale solar projects.

Often, environmental obstacles and opposition from local interests result in considerable delays for utility solar projects. For example, developers of the  Ivanpah Solar Project in California came across multiple delays and had to adapt their plans many times in order to preserve the native desert tortoise population.

In contrast, most residential and small commercial solar installations only take a few months to install and connect to the electric grid. Additionally, they often receive little-to-no opposition. In fact, most rooftop solar installations are applauded for their environmental benefits that are good for the solar panel owner and their surrounding community.

If you’re interested in learning how your family can benefit from adopting solar power as your main source of electricity, we invite you to contact AMECO today by calling (888) 595-9570 or emailing GoSolar@AmecoSolar.com today to schedule an evaluation.