The Golden State has quite a large segment of its population interested in solar energy. Perhaps its the sunny climate, or the fact that many people are healthy and “green.” In any event, California solar panels are in big demand.
Here’s some fast facts from a related post:
“California Solar Energy on the rise has increased the number of rooftop solar panels from about 500 to 50,000 in a mere ten years. Of course, there is still a ways to go to reach the Million Solar Roofs called for by Governor Schwarzenegger, but a 100 x fold increase is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, over the past three years alone, sales of solar panels in the Golden State have doubled.”
If you want to find out where to buy solar panels in California, you’re in the right place. In fact, there are even ways that you can finance the panels through programs like the Solar Energy Loan Program offered earlier this year in Palm Desert. We’ll go over those in more detail in a future post.
Rooftop installations are particularly popular for property owners:
Before we get to where to buy solar panels in California, you’ll need to determine your budget. My favorite resource is Go Solar! California. This helpful site provides extensive information on tax credits, rebates and other incentives for solar energy. You will also find links for developers, builders and contractors.
The California Solar Initiative is also hot news, with the state providing $2.1 billion over the next 10 years to homeowners, businesses and other property owners to install solar panels. As explained on the official website:
“The CSI Program expanded state support for solar technology and is the product of Governor Schwarzenegger’s “Million Solar Roofs” vision for the State of California. The CSI Program was authorized by the CPUC through a number of regulatory decisions throughout 2006…. When it launched in January 2007, the CSI Program built upon nearly 10 years of state support for solar, including other incentive programs such as the Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). Both programs still exist to provide incentives for other technologies but have been closed to new solar projects as of the end of 2006.”
The California Solar Initiative program includes a goal to reach 1,940 MW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2016.
You can help reach that goal when you know where to buy solar panels in California! Did you know that many major hardware stores now carry solar panels? That’s right – from Lowe’s to Home Depot, even Costco sells solar products. Perhaps you want to go with a specialty retailer? Well, although we’re not associated with any of these companies, you might want to check out:
One tip is that when you purchase from a retailer, you often get assistance with installation and filling out the paperwork necessary for incentives and rebates. This is a great way to make sure you do it right, and make a sound investment.
Now is the time to invest in solar energy – prices are lower than ever, efficiency has increased, and the government is handing out money to help you convert. If you’ve installed solar panels on your property in California, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below.
Tags: buy solar panels, california solar, california solar initiative, california solar panels, million solar roofs



[...] in California, its clear that a clean, green lifestyle is broadly accepted on the West Coast. Solar in California is popular and [...]