Solar Energy Blog
Get the latest information on the state of Solar Power
The Era of the Electric Vehicle is Upon Us
The 2017 Chevy Bolt: An exceptional EV at an affordable cost. Tim Stevens, Editor in Chief of CNET Roadshow, took the new 2017 Chevy Bolt on a long test-drive to find how the car would hold up on a real road trip. Stevens’ journey began in Monterey, California and...
Making Sense of Your Annual Bill After Going Solar: True-Up Breakdown
Going solar fundamentally changes a homeowner’s relationship with PG&E. When a homeowner goes solar, PG&E expects electricity costs to go down so much that they will only bill once per year for electricity. The annual bill, known as a True-Up Statement, is the net...
Allterra Solar Ribbon Cutting & Happy Hour: The Story of America’s Economic Recovery
What: Allterra Solar Ribbon Cutting and Happy Hour: The Story of America's Economic Recovery When: October 27th, 5-7pm Where: 116 McPherson St. Santa Cruz, CA Why: We've opened a new facility, come celebrate with us! Join Allterra Solar and fellow Westside businesses...
Owning is better than leasing when it comes to going solar, just ask Jeff
Jeff purchased a solar system from Allterra Solar last year and is experiencing all the benefits of owning solar power first hand. Due to a sunny year around Mount Toro in Monterey County, Jeff’s system produced more power than expected resulting in more savings,...
Allterra installs Tesla Powerwall on the Central Coast
Allterra Solar recently installed its first Tesla Powerwall in Santa Cruz County! With the addition of a Powerwall, the Santa Cruz resident is among a growing number of homeowners who are enjoying the benefits of solar PV and electricity storage. Powerwall brought the...
Green Tech Media – California Has More Solar Power Than You Think—a Lot More.
It is no secret that California leads the country in solar power. Forward-thinking energy policies, expensive utility rates, and plenty of sun have combined to create idyllic conditions for solar growth. Every year, the Golden State breaks records for new solar PV...
10 Questions to Ask Every Solar Company
It is no secret that the solar industry is growing rapidly. It seems like every week a new business begins to offer solar services! With such a variety of companies, it can be difficult for a homeowner to decide whom to hire. Greentech Media, a solar news and research...
How much solar to power the world?
Solar has been growing at an unprecedented rate across the U.S. and around the globe. In 2015, over 7,000 megawatts of solar was installed in the U.S. That’s enough solar to power 1.1 million homes! The numbers show that solar is growing, fast—with no signs of slowing...
2015 Economic Impact Report
It is easy to forget the importance of hiring locally owned and operated companies. As many people gravitate to big box retailers like Home Depot or national service companies like Comcast, we tend to forget small businesses in the United States are fundamental to our...
Green Week 2016
NBA Green Week has made its way back to the Central Coast and as the Official Sustainability Partner of the Santa Cruz Warriors, Allterra Solar is proud to present Green Week 2016 at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Allterra has teamed up with the UCSC Arboretum, New Leaf...
Governments Stand Up for Solar – NEM 2.0 and Federal Tax Credit Update
All over California, solar companies like Allterra Solar have been watching the news closely. At the federal and state level, two fundamental solar initiatives are being discussed and voted on: California’s Net Energy Metering Program and IRS’s Renewable Energy Tax...
If Solar Is Thriving, Why Mess With It?
In the coming weeks, the Public Utilities Commission will decide on the future of net energy metering, which has been the catalyst for California’s massive solar boom. With the large utilities lobbying hard to gut net metering, it’s unclear whether the Golden State...
11 Reasons to Go Solar Before July 15th, 2016
It's time to get off the fence. If you have even the slightest inclination toward going solar at any point in the future, you need to read this article. The solar industry is changing fast. It’s important that you move quickly to take advantage of incentives...
Incentives are Expiring—The Time for Solar is Now!
In the last decade, solar equipment has become extremely affordable. Over the last 18-24 months, however, solar prices have stabilized due to refined manufacturing processes and demand catching supply. At the same time, state and federal governments have created...
Financing Your Solar Purchase
In previous posts I covered the basics of PG&E billing and how aspects of your home such as roof material, size, and sun exposure impact solar installations. This article will focus on the way homeowners across California are paying for their solar systems. First, let...
Solar and Your Home
How Solar Works Sunlight hits a solar cell, electrons start to move, and an electrical current is created. Solar is simple relative to traditional sources of energy. In traditional sources of electricity or thermoelectric power plants, an intense heat or force is...
PG&E and Your Home
PG&E is our local utility. It provides natural gas and electricity for businesses and residents throughout the Central Coast. Since solar PV impacts electricity bills, I will be focusing in on electricity and how you buy it from PG&E. Electricity PG&E sells you...
Spring Industry Mixer – Adapting To Water Shortages
Abundant inexpensive water has been taken for granted for centuries but as California's drought persists, businesses, residents and government are grappling with the possibility of significant water curtailments for the fourth straight year. Is this the new normal?...