Like a rising variety of states implementing pro-active neighborhood photo voltaic insurance policies, the California Public Utilities Commission is about to vote on a revised proposed resolution that fails to seize the chance to create a viable market, based on the Coalition for Community Solar. Access.
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 California Public Utilities Commission (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 consequence within the growth of neighborhood photo voltaic initiatives 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 neighborhood photo voltaic program appears like:
…the report of this continuing doesn’t include the main points of what can be thought-about a profitable neighborhood renewable vitality program. Therefore, the workshop with the events to debate the aims, methodology, and metrics for neighborhood renewable vitality program evaluations will embrace a dialogue of what a profitable program appears like. neighborhood renewable vitality, together with metrics for achievement and a megawatt baseline anticipated for the neighborhood renewable vitality program.
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 aspect 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 an alternative of utilizing non-public capital “to serve a whole lot of 1000’s of income-eligible clients and small companies”.
In addition, the revised proposed resolution doesn’t present particulars similar to a way of disseminating exterior funding to initiatives and taking part clients, reporting necessities, the participation course of, eligible tariffs, value restoration mechanisms, and so forth.
According to the CCSA, the CPUC is just not transferring ahead and as an alternative, “doubled down on supporting the damaged proposal from the state utilities and can make California’s neighborhood photo voltaic program useless on arrival. This won’t lead to progress.” of recent initiatives as envisioned in AB 2316 and can proceed to go away California with no useful neighborhood photo voltaic program.
CCSA highlights the worth that neighborhood photo voltaic can carry to California’s grid and assist the state meet its clear vitality and fairness targets. Going ahead with the revised proposed resolution, the CCSA argued, would imply ignoring a variety of teams from the legislature to a broad coalition of taxpayers and different teams looking for a viable photo voltaic program. in the neighborhood.
More and extra states are implementing pro-active neighborhood photo voltaic insurance policies because the market begins. As neighborhood photo voltaic installations contract in 2022, Wood Mackenzie predicts the US neighborhood photo voltaic market will develop 118% over the subsequent 5 years, with at the least 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 essential resolution proper,” mentioned Derek Chernow, Western regional director for CCSA.
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