You have the right to make energy from the sun without interference from the utilities.
In February, thanks to a massive public outcry, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) shelved their proposal to slap consumers with a Solar Tax averaging $700 per year. But since then, the CPUC and Gov. Newsom have been silent on what comes next. It’s possible they are working on other ways to sneak the Solar Tax back to the table. …
Get the full White Paper: The Utility “Cost Shift” Fallacy: How the utilities use tricky math to vilify rooftop solar Summary Rooftop solar and battery storage helps reduce the cost of the electrical grid, saving all ratepayers money The continued growth of rooftop solar and battery storage is key to a successful clean energy transition that puts the needs of …
Editor’s Note: Bill Powers is a well-regarded engineer and policy expert. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Protect Our Communities Foundation, a San Diego-based nonprofit conservation group. Solar Rights Alliance invited Mr. Powers to submit this guest post to help clarify the misinformation that utilities and others are spreading through the media. Guest Blog Post: Response to …
On Monday January 10th, two reporters asked Governor Newsom where he stood on the CA Public Utilities Commission’s proposal to penalize people for choosing solar energy, and whether the proposal needed to be changed. The Governor’s answer: “We still have work to do…Do I think changes should be made? Yes, I do.” View his full response to the first and the second question. The good …
This week, the LA Times published a story about the fight over rooftop solar, followed up by a smaller article. Here’s eight take-homes from the story. 1) Everyone loves rooftop solar, including working and middle class people. By featuring new solar user Marta Patricia Martinez, the LA Times illustrated an important fact: just under half of all new solar is …
You’ve decided to get serious about going solar for your home or business. Great! Here’s a few ways you can get started. Basic research There’s a lot of information on the internet. Three resources we like: State of California: California Solar Consumer Protection Guide, published by the state energy regulator (CPUC), includes a comprehensive checklist of questions to ask to …
The national association of senior citizens, AARP, recently doubled down on their confused position about rooftop solar. In doing so, AARP remains aligned with PG&E and the other California utilities’ efforts to double the cost of rooftop solar. This is unfortunate, and against the interests of senior citizens and all ratepayers suffering from blackouts and ever-increasing electricity bills. Background: AARP …
SMUD significantly cut the credit solar users receive for sharing their extra energy with the community. It will affect new solar users starting March 1, 2022 and current solar users within one to ten years. It will make solar prohibitively expensive for working and middle class people in the Sacramento area. And it violates a longstanding principle to ensure a …
Summary Even as power outages rip through the state, SMUD stands by their flawed study that grossly undervalues the benefits of rooftop solar. SMUD is using this study to justify changes that will discourage rooftop solar in Sacramento. At issue is net metering, a policy that allows solar users to share their extra solar energy with the community for a …
Summary On March 15th, California’s three investor-owned utilities submitted a joint proposal intended to pressure the CA Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) into making consumer solar two times more expensive than it is today. The utilities’ proposal would put solar out of reach for most working and middle class people, just when recent studies show they make up nearly 50% of …