A controversial solar plan put together by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District has been approved by the California Energy Commission. Under SMUD's community solar plan, which they call Neighborhood SolarShares, home builders can provide solar energy to consumers from solar farms already connected to the electricity grid.
SMUD says the plan is designed to make new homes affordable, but opponents say the proposal isn't going to save homeowners money, and will they'll end up paying more for energy bills.
A new California law requires that new single-family houses or low-rise apartments to install solar panels.