Lancaster Becomes First U.S. City to Mandate Residential Solar

As part of its quest to become the "Alternative Energy Capital of the World", Lancaster, California will require all new single-family homes to incorporate solar energy systems beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

1 minute read

January 3, 2014, 10:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

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"The city announced Thursday [Dec. 26] that the California Energy Commission approved the city’s locally adopted energy standards, making Lancaster the first city in the nation to make residential solar mandatory," reports Jim E. Winburn. "Given authority by the CEC to enforce the ordinance, Lancaster now requires single family residential units – built after Jan. 1, 2014 – to provide an average of 1 kilowatt (kW) of solar-generated electricity per housing unit."

City of Lancaster Communications Manager Joseph Cabral explains to Winburn that the solar mandate in the city's updated Residential Zoning Ordinance can be met in the aggregate in new subdivisions, meaning each home doesn't need its own solar system.

FULL STORY: Lancaster’s state-approved ordinance mandates solar for new homes

Friday, December 27, 2013 in The Civic Bee

Energy Housing California Lancaster Solar Energy

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