Will California’s solar panel measure pave the way for other states?

Beginning in 2023, California will require most new commercial properties and tall residential projects to include solar power and battery storage.

The measure is one of the most sweeping sustainability updates to building codes by a government agency — and could pave the way for other states to follow suit with policies that reduce real estate’s reliance on fossil fuels.

“California has the largest economy in the U.S., and if it were a country, it would rank as the world's fifth largest economy, ahead of India,” says Kyle Goehring, Executive Vice President, Clean Energy Solutions, JLL. “A lot of its policies are trailblazers for the rest of the country and even internationally.”

Right now, California is one of only two states that create its own energy standards for building codes. Besides Washington, the rest use models from the International Code Council, which sometimes adopts energy-related standards developed by California.

But other states could follow because of the trailblazing nature of California’s policies, especially as it relates to the International Code Council.

For building owners looking to implement changes to design plans that incorporate the mandates, it’s important to contact clean energy experts to understand what changes they can implement that will have the greatest impact in the most cost-effective way, Goehring says.

“Oftentimes, the investment in equipment needs to be right sized,” he says. “Whether there’s a mandate or not, exploring lower carbon options at the beginning, including working with architects, financiers, and a green energy team, is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for the bottom line.”