Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
D.C.'s Solar Permits More Than Doubled In The Past Year
WAMU | OCT 3, 4:12 PM
D.C.’s Solar Permits More Than Doubled In The Past Year
Jacob Fenston
Solar energy is having a moment in D.C., after years of efforts to get more people to make the switch.
There were more than two times as many solar installation permits issued in the District in fiscal year 2019 compared to the previous year, and more than three times as many permits as fiscal year 2015.
“It’s taken a long time in the District for people to gravitate towards solar,” says Mark Ballantine, executive director of D.C.-based solar installer Universal Renewables. “I’ve noticed a very big uptick in interest, probably in the last three years.”
There are a few likely reasons behind the uptick—for one thing, D.C. has recently strengthened its renewable energy mandate, which includes a specific requirement for how much electricity in the city must come from local solar (increasing every year, from 1.85 percent in 2019 to 10 percent in 2040). That mandate creates a strong local market for solar credits, making solar systems more affordable for homeowners and profitable for solar businesses.
“It’s very strong, probably one of the strongest in the country,” says Ballantine.
{snip}
This story originally appeared at WAMU.
D.C.’s Solar Permits More Than Doubled In The Past Year
Jacob Fenston
Solar energy is having a moment in D.C., after years of efforts to get more people to make the switch.
There were more than two times as many solar installation permits issued in the District in fiscal year 2019 compared to the previous year, and more than three times as many permits as fiscal year 2015.
“It’s taken a long time in the District for people to gravitate towards solar,” says Mark Ballantine, executive director of D.C.-based solar installer Universal Renewables. “I’ve noticed a very big uptick in interest, probably in the last three years.”
There are a few likely reasons behind the uptick—for one thing, D.C. has recently strengthened its renewable energy mandate, which includes a specific requirement for how much electricity in the city must come from local solar (increasing every year, from 1.85 percent in 2019 to 10 percent in 2040). That mandate creates a strong local market for solar credits, making solar systems more affordable for homeowners and profitable for solar businesses.
“It’s very strong, probably one of the strongest in the country,” says Ballantine.
{snip}
This story originally appeared at WAMU.
