Response to SMUD’s claims about their power plants and rooftop solar
In response to growing community pressure on SMUD to both commit to closing their fossil fuel power plants, and stop attacking rooftop solar users, SMUD has defended their current actions. This post unpacks SMUD’s claims. Contact info@solarrights.org if you have a question or comment. The basic deal We’re in a climate crisis. We must fully stop using fossil fuels and…
SMUD is still working to block rooftop solar. Here’s what customers are doing about it.
In March 2019, SMUD proposed charging its solar customers an average of $40 to $60 per month. They canceled the proposal after a public outcry. SMUD then promised to conduct a public process to determine its solar policies for the future. Even as that process unfolds, SMUD keeps doing things that block people from making and storing solar energy on…
SMUD got permission to keep solar off new homes. Now what?
The CA Energy Commission voted last week to approve SMUD’s SolarShares proposal, which we predict will effectively block solar on most new homes in Sacramento area for twenty years. Many other utilities around the state supported SMUD’s proposal and we suspect they will seek the same deal. This, despite opposition from the hundreds of community members in Sacramento and around…
The Sacramento utility tried to stop solar on new homes. Local residents blew the whistle and won a delay. What’s next?
Update: February 10th, 2020: SMUD has resubmitted their proposal to block solar from going on all newly built homes in Sacramento. Their revised plan has no meaningful changes, and we remain opposed to their plan. Learn more about SMUD’s latest effort and take action. Read more here for the deep backstory. Proposal would have gutted the state’s new plan to…
You should not be in the dark
The lights went out on millions of people this fall. This doesn’t need to be the new normal. Here are four things to know about how we can protect our homes and communities from power outages, and five actions our leaders should take to get us there. 1) Our electrical grid is fragile. Solar and battery storage should be a…
Six tips for buying a solar-powered battery
Thinking of getting a solar-powered battery for your home or business? Here’s six tips to help you figure it all out. Solar-powered batteries can let you keep — and use — all of your solar energy Depending on its size, a battery storage system installed at your home or business stores all that extra solar energy you make during the…
Blueprint for the Utility of the Future
It is time for utilities to join the 21st century or get left in the dust. Here’s what Sacramento area solar users recently proposed to their local utility, SMUD. Nearly 1,000 SMUD customers signed a petition in support of this proposal. Could this be the blueprint for the utility of the future? September 3, 2019 Proposal for SMUD to Partner…
A huge power outage just happened. Utilities keep attacking solar & storage. State officials stand aside. What’s wrong with this picture?
We have four take-homes from this week’s PG&E power outage: Outage take-home #1: Our electrical grid is fragile. Solar and battery storage should be a key strategy to move us forward These two articles frame the issue well: From Fast Company Magazine: To keep the lights on during California’s blackouts, people are using solar power “Between the solar and the…
Solar users went to your State Capitol. Here’s how it went.
In late August, two dozen solar users from across the state joined solar workers at the State Capitol to educate lawmakers about the benefits of rooftop solar, part of our 2nd Annual Solar Lobby Day. All in all, we met with over twenty lawmakers or their staffs in one day. Why do we organize Solar Lobby Day? The main goal…
Good news: Cities can’t tax your solar thanks to state lawmaker action
State lawmakers took a stand for your right to make solar energy by ensuring local governments can’t tax your solar. Background: local governments often charge taxes on services like cable and electricity. They’re called Utility Utilization Taxes (UUT). A few years ago, state lawmakers correctly recognized that you should not get taxed for the solar energy that you make and…