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San Francisco Mandates Solar on All New Buildings 10 Stories or Less by Triple Pundit Environmental News Network, May 31, 2016

Although those who reside outside of San Francisco may not be aware of the fact, mid-April 2016 marked a huge milestone in the advancement of green technology in the city and its mandated usage in all newly-constructed buildings.

The new legislation, unanimously approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 19, states that all new buildings with 10 stories or fewer, including all residential and commercial projects, must include a photovoltaic solar panel installation that encompasses 15 percent of the building's total rooftop. Moreover, the area that is dedicated to the installation must be positioned in full sunlight and free of any shade or obstructions.

San Francisco's new law doesn't officially take effect until Jan. 1, so builders and contractors still have time to prepare their businesses for the new regulation. However, any buildings that are under construction within San Francisco city limits will be required to accommodate the recent legislation.

Paving the way for other cities to follow

San Francisco is certainly the first major U.S. city to require the installation of solar panel systems on new buildings, but it's not the first governmental entity to do so. In fact, Sebastopol and Lancaster, both of which are located in California, have abided by similar regulations since 2013.