UTILITY / GRID SUPPLIED RENEWABLE POWER

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In the Bay Area, residents are lucky to be able to choose 100% renewable-generated electricity (i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric sources).  Renewable power is procured by various non-profit local agencies, and their power is delivered over PG&E lines (and PG&E handles the billing).  Renewable electricity costs about the same as PG&E's power (which is a mix of "conventional" and renewable sources).  For example, this MCE webpage compares costs of their electricity offerings to those of PG&E: https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/rates/   If you live in Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma or Solano Counties, your renewable power supplier is MCE https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/ .  If you live in another Bay Area county, find a Bay Area renewable power provider at Bay Area Sunshares' website, at https://www.bayareasunshares.org/opt-up-to-100-renewables .

 

SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION AT HOME

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Solar panels that generate electricity, also known as photovoltaic panels, have been around for decades.  In the past decade or so, they have become popular on buildings.  Buildings in remote locations that are 'off the grid' may have a stand-alone solar system.  However, for most of us, our homes are served by utility-supplied electricity.  For electric grid-connected buildings (including homes) that have solar electric systems, their solar-generated electricity goes into the grid.  Owners of solar electric systems receive payment from the utility when they generate more power than they use.  For more information on this, see this CPUC webpage:  https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/demand-side-management/net-energy-metering .

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Solar power generation at home has become so mainstream that the current California building energy code requires solar electric panels for most new low-rise residential buildings.

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There are government incentive programs to help with the cost of installing solar electric systems.  For example, see https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics .

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While solar systems are usually owned by the property owner, another option is where the solar installer also owns the panels; in this case, the solar installer/owner sells the power to the building owner at a set price. 

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The US DOE has a helpful website that explains the technology, economics, ownership options, etc.  See https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar .

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WHOLE HOUSE BATTERY ELECTRICITY STORAGE SYSTEMS

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As the cost of battery systems comes down (due to mass production for portable electronic devices and for electric powered vehicles), home battery systems are becoming more popular.  These are helpful foe making the electric grid more resilient, and also provide backup power when the grid is suffering an outage.  Battery systems tied to solar electric systems are becoming so mainstream that the current state energy code provides a "compliance credit" for new residential buildings that incorporate battery systems tied to solar electric systems.

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There are incentive programs to help pay for whole house battery systems.  See https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/sgipinfo/ .