Earlier in the week I took a look at which brands of solar panels have been top choices for residential solar energy systems in California. We found that three manufacturers — SunPower, Sharp Solar and BP Solar — have accounted for about half of all residential solar energy systems, judging from the number of rebate [...]

This morning, I got to tinkering around with some numbers from California Solar Statistics, a program of the state’s Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission. What did I find? Well, beyond a wealth of details on system size, average installed cost and California solar incentives, I verified that most solar home energy systems in the [...]

If you’re a residential customer of Southern California Edison (SCE), you’ve got more than SoCal’s sunny days to be happy about. You’re also sitting on what is arguably the state’s best solar rebate. We’ve discussed this before. But, looking at the numbers this morning, I could help but mention it again. Here’s the deal. In 2006, [...]

One of the nice things about solar rebate programs — beyond the fact that they help reduce the cost of solar installation — is that they can provide a trove of interesting solar-related data. See, in order to ensure that you receive state- or utility-sponsored solar rebate funds, your solar installer will need to file [...]

GRID Alternatives, the non-profit California organization that installs solar energy systems atop affordable housing complexes mainly in northern California, is partnering with Sunvalley Solar to extend its program to the state’s southern half.

Did some Californians get ripped off on their solar panel installations? Maybe. The Wall Street Journal last Friday ran an article on the California Solar Initiative (CSI), a multi-year roadmap that aims to boost in a major way the amount of electricity the state gets from solar energy systems. Among the article’s main takeaways was [...]

Come and get ‘em while they last! Southern California Edison (SCE) offers residential rebates of $1.55 per watt of solar panels installed, while the other two main utilities covered by the California Solar Initiative (CSI) — PG&E and SDG&E — offer a lower payment of $0.65 per watt. Fewer customers in SCE’s service area have [...]

Earlier this month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) release its 2010 assessment of the California Solar Initiative (CSI), a multi-year effort to increase the number of solar installations statewide. Among the report’s most interesting bits? The results from a phone survey CPUC conducted in 2009. Admittedly, this isn’t the most exhilarating chart. And details on [...]

Judging from number released a couple of weeks ago, San Jose can rightfully claim to be “the most” solar city in California. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on July 9 released an annual report on solar energy, detailing (among other things) the progress of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). A roadmap for installing 1,750 megawatts [...]

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last week issued its annual assessment of the California Solar Initiative, a $2.2 billion effort to install 1,940 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity across the state by 2016. On balance, the commission’s findings are positive: Three years into the state’s 10-year solar program, California is already 42 percent of [...]