California Solar Forecast Bumped By 14% Over 4 Years By Solar Mandate

The recent decision by the California Energy Commission to mandate solar on all new residential buildings starting from 2020 has had a noticeable impact on GTM Research’s solar forecast for the Golden State, bumping it up by 14% over 4 years, or around 650 megawatts (MW). Last week, after rumors and speculation had all but confirmed it, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced that it would approve changes to the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards which would mandate all new residential buildings including new homes, condos, and apartment buildings be built with solar PV installations of some sort, or tap into a community solar project. The move was intended to help cut energy use in new homes by over 50% and is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 115,000 cars off the roads.