SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — California has become the first U.S. state to require all new homes to be equipped with solar panels.<br /><br />According to Reuters, the five-member California Energy Commission voted unanimously in favor of the proposed rule on Wednesday. <br /><br />According to Business Insider, starting January 1, 2020 any new residence three stories or less, including single-family dwellings, apartment buildings or condos, will be required to have solar panels installed. <br /><br />Houses covered in shade and homes with tiny roofs will not need panels. <br />The energy commission says the new mandate will cost the average single-family homeowner about 10 grand upfront, while builders say it run more around $14,000 to $16,000. <br /><br />Energy Commission spokeswoman Amber Pasricha Beck told Reuters, homeowners will save around $19,000 in energy and maintenance costs over 30 years.
