Solar Industry News

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What exactly is green building?

April 7, 2018

This day and age, you hear everyone talking about going green. Whether you want to admit it or not, at some…

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Go paperless: 5 tips for reducing your business’s dependence on paper

April 4, 2018

Thinking about reducing your business’s carbon footprint? Looking for ways to hit your organization’s sustainability goals? An article from Sustainable Cities…

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The 4 phases of a commercial solar panel installation

April 2, 2018

When you’re first investigating the possibility of implementing a commercial solar installation, the future looks bright. It’s exciting to think…

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How to create a highly-effective solar RFP

March 31, 2018

Most public entities and some large corporations must initiate solar projects through a formal process. They send out a request…

Residential Solar

What to expect when you go solar: 4 stages to completing a new commercial solar installation

March 29, 2018

Your organization has committed to going solar. Now what? While you may have experience with other types of construction projects,…

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Investigating how to go solar? Expect solar companies to ask you these 7 questions

March 27, 2018

When you’re ready to discuss how to go solar with photovoltaic (PV) solar system providers, you should also be ready to answer…

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Honored with SunPower 2017 “Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year” Award

March 25, 2018

  Solar Technologies, a Santa Cruz based solar installer, has received the SunPower “Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year” award…

Solar Technologies

Solar incentives, policies and advocacy: 5 info-packed sites to save and share

March 21, 2018

As you might imagine, there’s a ton of solar information available to business leaders, but where to begin? We’ve handpicked…

Residential Solar

Commercial solar panel degradation: What you should know and keep in mind

March 16, 2018

As we’ve seen, there are a number of important characteristics to consider when making a solar panel decision for your business. One…

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The real financial benefits of commercial solar

March 14, 2018

If you’ve been wary about the financial impact of going solar, you’ll be glad to know that it’s never been…

Solar Industry News

At Orchard Commercial, the system has exceeded production estimates and operated without interruption

Secure Your 30% Solar Tax Credit: A Business Owner’s Guide to Safe Harbor Under IRS Notice 2018-59

By Solar Technologies | July 6, 2025

As a business owner or commercial property investor, you know timing is everything — and that’s especially true when it comes to maximizing your federal solar tax incentives. With the future of the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) uncertain, understanding Safe Harbor under IRS Notice 2018-59 could mean the difference between locking in thousands (or…

Action Required: Changes to SunStrong Solar Monitoring and Cellular Connectivity by July 8

By Solar Technologies | June 20, 2025

If your home solar system is monitored through the SunStrong Connect app, previously mySunPower, you may have received a message recently about an upcoming service change. Here’s what you need to know — and what steps you should take — to avoid losing system monitoring and potentially damaging your equipment. Why Is This Happening? In…

Will the Federal Solar Tax Credit Survive 2025? Here’s What We Know

By Solar Technologies | June 17, 2025

A Big Change Could Be Coming for Solar Incentives—Here’s What Bay Area Homeowners Need to Know If you’re thinking about going solar or adding battery storage, you’ve likely heard of the 30% Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)—the incentive that’s helped millions of Americans lower the cost of their solar systems. But a proposed bill…

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PG&E’s Net Billing Tariff Explained: How Solar + Battery Storage Maximizes Your Savings in 2025

By Solar Technologies | June 14, 2025

PG&E’s Rules for Solar Changed—Here’s What You Need to Know – If you’re a Bay Area homeowner exploring solar in 2025, you’ve probably heard the term Net Billing Tariff, or NBT – sometimes referred to as NEM 3.0. This is PG&E’s new solar billing policy that replaced Net Metering (NEM) for residential customers. And while…

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How Bay Area Homeowners Are Using Solar + Battery Storage to Beat PG&E Rate Hikes

By Solar Technologies | June 4, 2025

Tired of PG&E Rate Hikes and Rising Bills? There’s a Better Way PG&E rates have soared over 40% in the past few years—and they’re not slowing down. For Bay Area homeowners, that means higher monthly bills with little warning and fewer options. But thousands have already found a solution: solar + battery storage. With solar…

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Why 2025 May Be The Best Year To Go Solar In California

By Solar Technologies | June 1, 2025

If You’ve Been Thinking About Solar, Don’t Wait Until The Tax Credit is Gone For years, the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC) has made going solar one of the smartest financial moves a California homeowner can make. But if Congress passes the proposed legislation now in play, 2025 could be the last year to…

Solar Panels in California: What to Know Before You Buy in 2025

By Solar Technologies | May 28, 2025

Thinking About Going Solar? Make Sure You Start With the Right Solar Panels – If you’re a Bay Area homeowner considering solar in 2025, you’re not alone. With utility rates rising and tax incentives likely ending this year, more people than ever are looking to take control of their energy bills. But not all solar…

How To Connect Your SunPower Monitoring Device to Wi-Fi

By Solar Technologies | May 10, 2025

Connect your monitoring device to wi-fi The PVS (Photovoltaic Supervisor) is a compact device typically installed in your garage or mounted on an exterior wall. It functions as the central hub of your solar system, collecting performance data and communicating with other tools, including the Sunstrong Monitoring platform. What was previously known as the mySunPower®…

Understanding Solar Inverter Functions & When to Schedule Repairs

By Solar Technologies | April 4, 2025

Your solar system is only as strong as its inverter. Whether you’re using SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, or Fronius, your inverter plays a crucial role in turning sunlight into usable power for your home. At Solar Technologies, we specialize in solar service and inverter repairs throughout California. In this article, we’ll walk you through how inverters…

The Best Home Battery Storage Options for PG&E Customers in California

By Solar Technologies | April 2, 2025

With California’s transition to the 2025 Net Billing Tariff (NBT), PG&E customers are seeking the best home battery storage solutions to maximize their solar investment. Choosing the right battery can mean greater energy independence, lower electricity bills, and reliable backup power. The top contenders in the market today are Tesla’s Powerwall 3, Enphase’s IQ8 batteries,…