Solar energy bill targets new homes

Some new California homes would have to be equipped with solar energy systems under a bill approved by the state Senate after lawmakers debated whether tapping the sun to create electricity was cost-effective.

The legislation, by Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City), would require an as-yet-unspecified percentage of new single-family homes in developments of 25 or more to be equipped with solar panels capable of generating at least 2 kilowatts of power.

The requirement would start in 2006, and the percentage of new homes requiring solar power would increase each year until 2010 by an unspecified amount.

Two kilowatts would generate enough electricity to take care of about half of the typical family’s needs, with the power grid providing the rest, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, a clean-energy advocate for the group Environment California, the bill’s chief supporter. A 22-13 vote sent the bill to the Assembly.