California became the first state in the union Wednesday to require solar panels be installed on all new home construction; a move designed to help “cut greenhouse gases” but could add even higher prices to the nation’s most expensive housing market.
The California Energy Commission approved the measure in a unanimous 5-0 vote, demanding all new homes and apartments built after 2020 have solar panels installed; adding over $10,000 to already record-high construction costs.
A spokesperson for the energy commission told Fox News that the “initial costs” will likely be off-set by long-term savings on energy and heating.
“For residential homeowners, based on a 30-year mortgage, the Energy Commission estimates that the standards will add about $40 to an average monthly payment, but save consumers $80 on monthly heating, cooling, and lighting bills,” said the Commission. “On average the 2019 standards will increase the cost of constructing a new home by about $9,500 but will save $19,000 in energy and maintenance costs over 30 years.”
Not all local politicians are in favor of the requirement, with some saying it will make the Golden State even more expensive for those seeking to relocate to the region.
“That’s just going to drive the cost up and make California, once again, not affordable to live,” said a local Republican leader.
Read the full story at Fox News.
CALIFORNIA CHAOS: DOJ to INVESTIGATE Oakland Mayor After ICE TIP-OFF
The White House confirmed this week that the Department of Justice was launching an investigation into a California mayor who tipped-off illegal immigrants of impending ICE sweeps; calling the left-wing politicians actions “outrageous,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called-out Oakland, California Mayor Libby Schaaf Thursday over her decision to publicly disclose imminent immigration crackdowns throughout the Bay Area, telling residents to be on the lookout for federal agents within their communities.
“I think it’s outrageous that a mayor would circumvent federal authorities and certainly put them in danger by making a move such as that,” said Sanders, adding that her actions were currently “under review” to see if she violated federal law.
“The Oakland mayor’s decision to publicize her suspicions about ICE operations further increased that risk for my officers and alerted criminal aliens — making clear that this reckless decision was based on her political agenda with the very federal laws that ICE is sworn to uphold,” said ICE’s acting director.
Oakland, like many other California municipalities, considers itself a ‘Sanctuary City,’ often shielding illegal immigrants and undocumented workers from federal authorities and border patrol agents.
CALIFORNIA CHAOS: GOP Rep. Proposes 'BORDER WALL' Between California and Arizona
A Republican congresswoman from Arizona proposed the construction of a “border wall” between her state and California; citing the ongoing chaos caused by the Golden State’s ‘sanctuary city’ policies and soaring crime rates.
Rep. Martha McSally made her surprising remarks while speaking at a round-table discussion at the White House Tuesday, saying Arizona residents need to protect themselves from California’s “dangerous policies.”
“As we look in Arizona, we often look into the dangers of the southern border,” said the congresswoman. “But if these dangerous policies continue out of California, we might need to build a wall between California and Arizona as well to keep these dangerous criminals out of our state.”
“[They can’t] provide sanctuary for these criminals and think that it’s only impacting California dangerously,” she added.
The state’s outrageous ‘sanctuary city’ policies were thrust into the national headlines again this week, when a small southern California town voted to officially reject the “unconstitutional” guidelines that prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents.
h/t The Hill