The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is about to vote on a revised proposed resolution that fails to seize the chance to create a viable group photo voltaic market.
From pv journal USA
The Community Renewable Energy Act (AB 2316) is sponsored by the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), and supported by the Solar Industries Energy Association, GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, Sierra Club, and others. However, the CPUC opposed the invoice.
The CPUC insisted in its proposed resolution that the Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) set forth within the Community Renewable Energy Act “contradicts federal regulation and doesn’t meet the necessities” of the invoice, which the CCSA famous is flawed.
In feedback filed in March by the CCSA, it described the unique proposed resolution as false and misinformed, and decided that it will not outcome within the improvement of group photo voltaic tasks as envisioned by the legislature with enforcement. of AB 2316.
Now the CPUC is revising its proposed resolution and admits it wants steering on what a profitable group photo voltaic program seems like:
This revised proposed resolution states that it’s useful to taxpayers to ascertain a buyer subscription mannequin and an add-on that’s not funded by the ratepayer in the usual provide facet tariffs. This “modified” proposed resolution nonetheless seeks to depend on one-time funding from the EPA’s Solar for All program as a subsidy. The CCSA cautioned towards subsidizing “an ineffective program” as a substitute of utilizing personal capital “to serve tons of of hundreds of income-eligible prospects and small companies”.
In addition, the revised proposed resolution doesn’t present particulars reminiscent of a technique of disseminating exterior funding to tasks and taking part prospects, reporting necessities, the participation course of, eligible tariffs, value restoration mechanisms, and so forth.
According to the CCSA, the CPUC isn’t shifting ahead and as a substitute, “doubled down on supporting the damaged proposal from the state utilities and can make California’s group photo voltaic program useless on arrival. This is not going to lead to progress.” of recent tasks as envisioned in AB 2316 and can proceed to go away California with out a purposeful group photo voltaic program.
CCSA highlights the worth that group photo voltaic can deliver to California’s grid and assist the state meet its clear power and fairness targets. Going ahead with the revised proposed resolution, the CCSA argued, would imply ignoring many teams from the legislature to a broad coalition of taxpayers and different teams looking for a viable photo voltaic program. locally.
A rising variety of states are implementing proactive group photo voltaic insurance policies because the market begins. As group photo voltaic installations contract in 2022, Wood Mackenzie predicts the US group photo voltaic market will develop 118% over the subsequent 5 years, with not less than 6 GW anticipated to come back on-line in current market between 2023 to 2027.
“California must seize this once-in-a-generation alternative to create a vibrant market. We urge the CPUC to decelerate and take the additional time wanted to get this vital resolution proper,” stated Derek Chernow, western regional director of CCSA.
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