AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
In May 2018, the California Energy Commission took another step toward requiring all new homes under three stories to have solar panels installed beginning in 2020. Currently, only between 15 and 20 percent of new single-family homes in California install rooftop solar. While solar may make economic and environmental sense for some, CGO researchers Christopher Koopman and Josh Smith contend that mandating it for all Californians will backfire by worsening the state’s housing affordability crisis, disincentivizing the building of more energy-efficient houses, and continuing to hurt the poor.
Read the full piece as it was published by Market Urbanism.
CGO scholars and fellows frequently comment on a variety of topics for the popular press. The views expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Growth and Opportunity or the views of Utah State University.