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LA renters have been shut out of solar. That's about to change.
Employees of Solar Forward install solar electric panels on a residential rooftop on February 27, 2009 in Santa Monica, California. Until now, solar panels have largely been confined to homeowners. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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LA renters have been shut out of solar. That's about to change.
Until now, it's been almost impossible for renters in Los Angeles to access solar energy. Rooftops are controlled by landlords, who may or may not be interested in renewable power.
But that's about to change.
A new Los Angeles Department of Water and Power program called Shared Solar would let renters buy electricity from solar panels installed on government buildings around the city — no rooftop or landlord permission required.
This story is part of Elemental: Covering Sustainability, a new multimedia collaboration between Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KJZZ, KPCC, Rocky Mountain PBS and PBS SoCal.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
