washington — solar power is now the third most popular renewable energy source, behind water and wind, according to a new report by the u.s. energy information administration.

the latest example of its continued growth came on may 9, when the california energy commission voted unanimously to require builders to install solar power systems on all new homes. as the american power grid grapples with aging infrastructure, cybersecurity threats and a reliance on fossil fuels, solar offers homeowners a cheaper and cleaner option, according to supporters of the law.

commissioner andrew mcallister said the “modestly sized” solar systems will be designed based on the needs at each home to reduce the possibility of creating wasted energy. homeowners will be less reliant on the traditional grid, he said, and could further reduce their need by investing in panels with storage capability.

“the emergence of super-smart photovoltaic systems is expected to enable owners to participate in” the renewable energy markets “that will strengthen the ability of the grid to help achieve climate change goals,” mcallister said in an email.

if the homes do produce extra solar energy, it could also be transferred directly to the grid, mcallister explained.

however, john twitty, executive director of the transmission access policy study group, told a house subcommittee on may 10 that merging existing and alternative energy sources is a worthy idea, but difficult to implement.

“making sure it works as it relates to the total grid is one of the challenges today of intermittent resources,” twitty said at the hearing. “wind and solar are wonderful and we’re all trying to figure out ways to harness them properly, but when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, it’s a real challenge.”

rep. kathy castor, d-fla., took it one step further, stressing the importance of non-transmission alternatives, such as solar-powered microgrids that run completely independently of a larger grid.

like california, florida is increasing its commitment to renewables, completing eight solar projects already this year, according to a separate eia report released this week.

“non-transmission alternatives not only have significant environmental benefits but they can help prevent long-term, area-wide blackouts after natural disasters like we saw in texas and florida and puerto rico this summer,” castor said.

the california law – the first in the u.s. to mandate solar power in building construction – will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount as eliminating 115,000 gas-powered cars, according to the california energy commission.

homeowners will also save money in the long run, mcallister said. the commission estimates that, based on a 30-year mortgage, residents will pay $40 more each month for the panels, but save $80 each month on heating, cooling, and lighting bills.

“these standards help to deliver the clean energy and air that californians want,” mcallister said. “nationwide, renewable energy is on the rise. we expect that trend to continue.”

in 2017, solar power generated 77 million megawatt hours, exceeding biomass power — which involves burning wood, solid waste, and landfill gas — for the first time. hydropower, the most popular renewable, generated 300 million megawatt hours — about four times as much as solar.

he’s the most well known guy on the block, but he’s totally invisible.

picture your average neighbor… with a few quirks. the house with over a dozen solar panels, three solar-powered pink flamingos, and a hydrogen fuel cell? it’s totally off the grid. what was once a typical “1920s sears kit home” has become a modern, sustainable energy hub.

aside from the energy savings, scott sklar lives like any other resident of arlington, virginia… right down to the hybrid car in his driveway. his blend of technologies and innovations are constantly spreading – half his block has now invested in solar panels too!

“most people make decisions about technology not on cost, but when they see other people doing it,” sklar said.

sklar tells his employees at the stella group, and his students at the george washington university, that even if they can’t afford a tesla or solar panels for their dorms, they can still make a difference every day by making smarter energy choices. as simple as buying an led light bulb.

some have called his house weird, innovative, and maybe even a little crazy… but don’t take their word for it, see for yourself!

how the times have changed.

today, the price of advanced photovoltaic technology has plummeted as the technology continues to advance.  this is coupled with significant tax credits at the local and federal level brought on by the stimulus bill of 2009.  the economics have become much better, but buying and installing solar power can still be hard for one person or household to manage.

enter: anya schoolman.

about 10 years ago schoolman’s son and his friend diego went to see an inconvenient truth. they came back on a mission. with the help of schoolman, the trio decided they wanted to go solar. they looked into it, did their research, and came out more confused. the family found it difficult to navigate the policies, forms and finding the proper vendors.  so they had the idea of starting a solar co-op in their neighborhood.  their friends and neighbors joined them in a bulk order, making it cheaper and easier for everyone to get access to the technology.

and dc solar united neighborhoods was born to help other neighborhoods around d.c make solar power affordable and accessible to everyone.

today, schoolman has taken the idea of uniting neighborhoods in pursuit of clean solar power national with the community power network, an organization that brings solar cooperatives around the country together to share in techniques and methods.  we had the opportunity to meet anya, see her solar array surrounded by all her neighbors’ panels, and learn about her work to make solar power accessible to everyone.  for schoolman, solar power is not the energy of the future; it’s the energy of the present.

would you consider putting solar on your house if you had your neighborhood behind you? would you organize your neighborhood to go green? tell us how and show off your home solar projects in our comments section.

gabe salkin and leor reef are seniors majoring in journalism at the george washington university.

however, solar systems traditionally cost anywhere between $20,000-$45,000, and that can make it too expensive for most people to purchase systems for their homes. but, instead of purchasing a system, homeowners can now purchase solar electricity! sunrun created the first residential solar ppa (power purchase agreement) in 2007 that offers solar power as a service.

now, you can cut miles of transmission lines and avoid consequences of dirty coal and bring the solution right to your rooftop, literally.

learn more about the story of coal: http://www.sunrunhome.com/why-solar/solar-video/the-story-of-coal