Installing solar in California? Prepare to wait and pay more
To the editor: I learn with nice curiosity your article regarding photo voltaic, as I’m presently within the course of of getting a system activated at my house.
Sadly, I didn’t contract for the venture earlier than April 2023 and am subsequently certain by the net-metering plan that reduces the facility buyback credit score by 75%. This disincentivizes many owners from putting in photo voltaic.
Moreover, California doesn’t present a rebate or tax credit score, and the federal tax credit score (presently as a lot as 30% of the system value) expires in 2032. If our federal and state governments actually need to scale back our reliance on fossil fuels, they need to create higher incentive plans for owners to put in methods which are very costly.
Additionally, the allowing and inspection course of is much too prolonged. I contracted on June 28, however the anticipated activation for my system is a while in November or December, though the precise set up took lower than one week.
The explanation: massive backlogs in allow purposes and inspections. The federal government ought to present particular funding to employees the native departments that deal with photo voltaic allowing and set requirements for the electrical corporations to scale back their inspection and activate time.
At the moment, 42% of electrical energy generated in California is from fossil fuels. The sooner every house photo voltaic system turns into lively, the faster we drive down demand for fossil fuels.
Frank Deni, Lake Forest
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To the editor: Thanks in your well timed and impactful particular part on local weather change. I recognize having the ability to learn in-depth reporting on a subject that needs to be on the entrance web page of each newspaper on daily basis.
The article on solar energy choices in California was informative and answered lots of my questions. However one space that it didn’t deal with was the brand new federal grant program, Photo voltaic for All.
State and native governments can now (and California positively ought to) broaden their distributed photo voltaic initiatives by making use of for a grant beneath this new U.S. Environmental Safety Company program.
This system is a part of the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative, that means a minimum of 40% of this system’s advantages should attain low-income and deprived communities. Below Photo voltaic for All, the EPA will grant as much as 60 awards to native governments, nonprofits and different entities, and the applying deadline is Sept. 26.
This is a chance for California to convey our tax {dollars} again to the state and create new jobs right here, whereas offering clear vitality to low-income communities. State officers have to act now to jot down and submit a grant in order that California can proceed to guide the nation in actual options to the local weather disaster.
Marilyn Inexperienced, Malibu
