Oregon, particularly Portland, is a well-known hotbed for environmentalists, so it’s no surprise when the state’s governor – in this case Kate Brown (D) – issues executive orders protecting the environment and encouraging residents to implement energy efficiency and water conservation measures.
But last week, in a move that seemingly flew under most people’s radar in the solar industry, Brown issued Executive Order 17-20 which, among other things, mandates new residential and commercial structures be made “solar ready” by October 2022. And the governor is implementing these changes through changes to the state’s building codes, which the order argues is the most effective way to ensure these changes take place.
Section 4, subparagraph A, directs the state Department of Business and Consumer Services’ Building Code Division (BCD) to amend the state’s codes to include requirements that all new home construction must include the appropriate structures to allow the easy installation of solar modules. The deadline for home builders to comply with the new building code is October 1, 2020.
But commercial builders shouldn’t feel left out – the order also directs the BCD to include provisions that will require them to be compliant with the “solar ready” provisions by October 1, 2022.
Brown does give the BCD the ability to grant limited, case-by-case exceptions in situations where solar installations are “infeasible.”
pv magazine believes Oregon may be the first state to require all new residential and commercial buildings be “solar ready”, though some cities have implemented such regulations.
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That’s my Governor,
Thanks again Kate!
Solar panel engineering is not up to this yet.
And for older homes to sell, all present owners will need to install these not-yet-efficient solar systems.
I envision a lot of tree canopy loss too.
I’m a former energy engineer, wishing that solar energy was up to this, but it’s not.
However, there are vertical wind turbines that pay for themselves within 5 yrs, not 15, when bought outright.
The lobbyists won on THIS one!
You know, this is a very unusual perspective that you have, given that solar is installed and saving money for large numbers of homeowners across the United States. It also takes a certain type of person to put up a outdated and largely uninformed opinion on the website of a publication that covers these issues every day, and whose journalists have been covering this issue for years.
Additionally, your sales pitch on vertical wind turbines does not belong here. Were it not an opportunity for us to comment on your ignorance and the inappropriateness of such spam sales tactics, we would not have published your comment at all.