Solar Energy Blog

The solar industry and anyone concerned about a renewable and resilient energy future has been on pins and needles for almost a year as the Public Utilities Commission has considered changes to Net Energy Metering rules, commonly known as NEM 3.0, that would decimate...

In honor of President's Day Weekend, we offer a brief history of the federal solar tax credit: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was originally established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 under the Bush Administration but was scheduled to sunset at the end of 2007. The...

The Clash Between the California Solar Industry and Big Utilities By Casey Beyer, CEO Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce For more than two decades, California solar energy companies, installers and customers have benefited from an incentive program known as Net Metering....

In a momentous step forward for climate and our economy, the Build Back Better Act just passed the U.S. House. Now we need Congress to make it law. These investments will create and expand good jobs, like mine, strengthen our economy, and improve U.S. competitiveness...

Go Big On Climate Action Congress is debating the biggest and most important climate and clean energy legislation our country has ever known. Predictably, the US Chamber of Commerce, the American Petroleum Institute and other Washington D.C. lobby groups are dusting...

Thousands of customers in the Santa Cruz Mountains have been left without power for extended periods this summer with no relief in sight.  PG&E recently installed safety triggers in an effort to reduce the risk of wild fires. Whenever anything (including...

A steady chorus of California politicians, high priced consultants and labor activists have been singing a similar tune in Sacramento lately. It goes something like this; “Net Energy Metering, or NEM, is a $3 billion subsidy for rich people with solar paid for by...

Originally Appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel 5/19/21. Click here to subscribe to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Op Ed By Dave Rosenfeld Editor’s note: The Sentinel recently published a Guest Commentary critical of rooftop solar credits. The following Commentary provides...

Dear Central Coast Community Energy,    California is a solar leader. We are asking you to make it easier, not harder, for more people in 3CE territory to go solar, to meet 3CE’s bold commitments to clean energy and to maximize the public benefits of our area’s...

Americans are waking up in 2021 realizing that 2020 wasn't a bad dream and that they still have to pay taxes on the income they earned. While most of us would prefer that 2020 be omitted from the official record, taxes and all, you can count on Uncle Sam to come...

[Originally published April 4th, 2020 at Santa Cruz Sentinel] My daughter has hosted a set of family discussions about what our family can do to slow climate change. Her dilemma is that we already have rooftop solar and an electric vehicle so options seemed limited....

Did you know? A typical person will drive their Electric Vehicle (EV) 10,000 miles in a year. To fully charge an EV each day would require six panels and the solar investment would pay for itself in about 4 years. Converting the sun's energy directly into driving...

Can you imagine the Central Coast devoid of beaches or redwood forests? Allterra Solar is committed to climate action and adaptation. To learn more about how you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money, visit allterrasolar.com Below is a new video from...

Santa Cruz, CA - Allterra Solar and KSQD 90.7fm are teaming up to offer residents in the radio station's broadcast area a win-win-win.    Solar Supports Community Radio – KSQD 90.7fm Promotion Details:   $500 will be donated to KSQD for each volunteer, board...