Hello there, fellow solar enthusiasts!
Today, I’d like to dwell on the future of a blossoming segment of the solar industry – namely, the community solar market – given a rather significant development that has just emerged in the Golden State. This development concerns the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) proposed decision regarding the Community Renewable Energy Act.
As an advocate for solar, you might have come across the term “community solar”, which essentially refers to a solar array for home that allows small businesses and residents who, for whatever reason, cannot put solar panels for their home, to tap into the power generated by an off-site solar facility. In other words, community solar appears as a boon to a good portion of Californians who rent or belong to the lox income group.
The provision for creating an affordable and equitable community solar program was laid out in the Community Renewable Energy Act, sponsored by assembly member Chris Ward (AB 2316). This act is designed on the model of New York’s program – which, for your knowledge, has catapulted the state to a national leadership position in community solar.
However, recently, the CPUC issued a proposed decision stating that the Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) defined by the Community Renewable Energy Act is at odds with federal law. This assertion, coming from an influential state body, inevitably casts a cloud of doubt over the future of community solar – both in California and beyond.
Proponents of the act, including the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), SEIA, GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have expressed their disappointment and criticism of the CPUC’s proposed decision. They argue that this decision not only overlooks the federal law and precedent set by states implementing community solar for over a decade, but also quashes an opportunity for California to emerge as a community solar innovator on a national scale.
Further strengthening the call for a robust community solar program are augural initiatives like the DOE’s National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP), which aims to enable enough community solar projects to power 5 million households and save $1 billion in combined energy bills.
Needless to say, solar companies are pivotal in realizing such esteemed goals. As per CCSA, private solar companies have already installed more than 6.6 GW of community solar capacity in over a dozen states across the country under models akin to the NVBT.
In closing, while California may have slipped into the second spot as a solar state, trailing behind Texas, it continues to hold substantial market potential. It becomes imperative, then, to ensure an effective community solar program in California, a pivotal element in meeting the DOE’s bold clean electricity goals.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the solar industry. And as always, if you’ve any queries about solar panels for your home or any other solar-related query, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Remember, every little step you make towards adopting solar makes our Earth a happier, healthier home.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/06/california-community-solar-market-lies-in-limbo/
