INTRODUCTION Tax-exempt entities (such as non-profits, schools, and municipalities) frequently ask what financing options they have when purchasing solar systems given their inability to use the available tax incentives (ITC) and accelerated depreciation (MACRS).  It is important to thoroughly explore each of their options before choosing the financing model so that an option with the most favorable economics,…

On February 1, 2018, a cautionary positive tale for unlicensed solar developers and Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) providers in California unfolded with a court ruling that a company can sell solar energy to homeowners without a contractor’s license if it only “arranges for” a licensed contractor to install the solar energy system. In Reed v. SunRun,…

Three months ago, a frequent stumbling block to going solar was overcome for California homeowners living in common-interest developments (“CID”), such as condominiums and planned developments. On October 15, 2017, AB 634 (Eggman) amended the CA Solar Rights Act (“Act”) with respect to what restrictions governing documents and entities, such as homeowner associations (“Associations”), can impose on solar installation…

A Happy Holiday Season From Estriatus Law At the close of another year, we gratefully pause to wish you a holiday season filled with peace and joy. May you have a new year filled with happiness and prosperity. As we look over some of the 2017 accomplishments of Estriatus Law, we are eager to see…

A new way of financing solar is taking off in the solar industry: pre-paid, Property Assessed Clean Energy (“PACE”) funded Power Purchase Agreements (“PPA”). At this point in solar’s mainstream transformation of our electric supply, most people are familiar with the acronym “PPA”. In case you missed it, however, PPAs are arrangements where a company…