GRID Alternatives ’s Post

Community solar and storage could help power California toward its goals for clean energy, grid reliability, energy equity and affordable housing, but only if regulators don’t allow the state’s biggest utilities to undermine it. That’s the argument a sprawling coalition of solar industry groups, consumer advocates, environmental justice organizations, labor unions and the state’s homebuilding industry has been making before the California Public Utilities Commission over the past few months. That’s a rare level of consensus in California’s fractured solar policy landscape, where battles over the value of rooftop solar systems have pitted environmental and consumer advocates against each other. #communitysolar #renewableenergy #solarenergy #california #windenergy

The widespread adoption of community solar projects across 43 states and the District of Columbia demonstrates the growing recognition of their importance in expanding access to clean energy. The presence of enabling legislation in 22 states and DC underscores the commitment of policymakers to support and facilitate the development of community solar initiatives within their jurisdictions. Enabling legislation plays a crucial role in providing the necessary framework and incentives to spur the growth of community solar projects. By establishing clear guidelines, incentives, and regulatory mechanisms, these laws create a conducive environment for developers to invest in community solar and for consumers to participate in such programs. States with enabling legislation often experience higher levels of community solar project development and availability of subscriptions, indicating the positive impact of supportive policy frameworks in driving adoption and deployment. Furthermore, the existence of low-income community solar legislation in 17 states and DC highlights a commitment to equity and inclusivity in renewable energy access. These laws aim to ensure that the benefits of community solar reach underserved and disadvantaged communities, helping to address energy affordability challenges and promote social equity. Overall, the presence of enabling legislation and low-income community solar legislation in numerous states reflects a multifaceted approach to advancing renewable energy goals, promoting sustainability, and addressing energy access disparities across diverse communities (Energy.gov). Credit to: Energy.gov Photo by Energy.gov https://lnkd.in/dQh_pCT6 #climatechange #sustainability #earth #nature #renewablenergy #renewables #renewableresource #renewablepower #decarbonization #cleanenergy #cleanpower

Disadvantaged Communities—Single-family Solar Homes (DAC SASH) ➡ Incentive value: Up to 100% of your total solar system cost ➡ Frequency: One-time rebate The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) partnered with GRID Alternatives, a certified nonprofit organization in Oakland, to create the DAC-SASH program (https://lnkd.in/gdW9ru2g). The program aims to use solar energy to maximize savings for low-income households in economically and environmentally disadvantaged communities. DAC-SASH meter The program is currently expected to run until 2030. To be eligible the following conditions must be met: 🔆 Must be Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) customers. 🔆 Must live on tribal land or in one of the disadvantaged 25% communities statewide. 🔆 Must meet income eligibility as set forth in annual CARE and FERA guidelines. What do you think on this news? Welcome to leave your comments 😉 . #ESS #Incentives #EnergyIncentive #SolaPower #LFPbattery #EnergyStorageSystem #BatteryStorage

The California Public Utility Commission recently issued a proposed order that states the Net Value Billing Tariff in the community solar legislation conflicts with federal law. According to the Coalition for Community Solar Access: "The proposed decision is flawed in numerous ways, but most importantly, it fails to provide the foundation needed for California to build a sustainable, scalable community solar program, which will ultimately leave billions of private investment and matching federal dollars on the table and ratepayers without a choice for more affordable, clean energy." Community solar is an essential program for ensuring equitable and affordable clean energy access for all. Considering the massive appetite for community solar in California, we are hopeful that this is only a temporary setback to the success of the program. #California #communitysolar #solar #cleanenergy #energyequity

Well researched and thorough article about the current show-down in California over whether we will finally have real #communitysolar programs and whether we will be competitive for any US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) #solarforall funding! "According to analysis from CCSA, the tariff could enable about 8 gigawatts of community solar paired with batteries to be built in the state using existing grid infrastructure, putting it in contention with other leading states for community solar like Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York.  That’s far from the estimated 13 gigawatts of rooftop solar installed in California to date. But it’s a big jump from the less than 600 megawatts of community solar developed in California so far under a panoply of programs.  Such an expansion would open up the benefits of solar — namely cheaper, cleaner power — to Californians who can’t install solar panels on the roofs of their homes. That includes both lower-income households and the state’s nearly 17 million renters who lack options for using solar power to reduce their utility bills."

🌞 Major Update for California Cities: Solar Permitting and Funding Opportunity! 🌱 Key Highlights: California Solar Access Act: California's new law requires most cities and counties to adopt SolarAPP+, an online permitting platform for residential solar and storage systems. Deadlines for Adoption: - Cities/counties with over 50,000 residents: by Sept. 30, 2023. - Cities/counties with 50,000 residents or fewer: by Sept. 30, 2024. - Exemptions for smaller cities and counties. - SolarAPP+ Platform: Developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, this platform simplifies permitting for residential rooftop solar systems. It's a code-compliant, automated system, free for all permitting offices. Noncompetitive Grant Funding: - $20 million available via the California Energy Commission’s CalAPP program. - Aimed at assisting local governments in adopting eligible automated solar permitting platforms. - Funding applications due by May 1, 2023. Utilization of Funds: Primarily for staff or consultant time; secondary uses include hardware, installation, and maintenance. This is an exciting move for California who's solar installation processing load continues to be one of the largest operations in the country. #SolarEnergy #LocalGovernment #California #SustainableCities #RenewableEnergy #FundingOpportunity #SolarAPP_PLUS #CalAPP

California can go from lagging to leading on #communitysolar. By adopting the net value billing tariff, California could grow its community solar to almost 8 GW (enough to power 1.6 million homes) placing the state alongside leading states like Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. CCSA’s Derek Chernow discusses the easy decision facing the California Public Utilities Commission to make a considerable community solar impact. https://lnkd.in/eXPpKDNP

As the future of #communitysolar in the Golden State hangs in the balance, the California Public Utility Commission can choose two paths: The first is to double down on failed programs of the past that have resulted in virtually no new community solar development in years. The second is to lead the nation with a state-of-the-industry program that would result in the development of 8 GW of community solar plus storage projects across the state, bill savings for more than 1 million low-income customers, and a tremendous infusion of private capital to build out public infrastructure. “We know from past mistakes [the first path is] not the way to scale up, it’s not the way to leverage private investment, and it’s not the way to get to the clean energy goals that California has set for itself.” Read more from Derek Chernow in Utility Dive: https://lnkd.in/gT4f-euQ

California is at a pivotal moment in shaping its clean energy future, particularly concerning community solar. Despite being a leader in solar energy production, California faces a challenge: approximately 44% of its residents, mainly renters and disadvantaged communities, cannot currently access solar energy due to the absence of a functional community solar program. This gap could potentially lead to the loss of up to $30 billion in state and federal incentives, including those from the Inflation Reduction Act, which would otherwise enable over 2 million people to access affordable, renewable, and reliable power. Community solar and storage programs are essential in ensuring that all Californians, regardless of housing status or income level, can benefit from clean energy. These programs are especially crucial for renters and low-income communities, who often bear the brunt of the climate crisis yet are typically excluded from clean energy transitions. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has made strides in modernizing its solar tariff to support grid reliability and decarbonization. The Net Billing Tariff aims to make rooftop solar more sustainable and equitable, incentivizing solar coupled with battery storage. This is crucial for reducing carbon emissions during peak energy times when the sun is down. The new tariff is expected to lead to significant monthly savings for average residential customers who install solar or solar paired with battery storage, with an average payback period of less than nine years. Despite these advances, there's an urgent need for a scalable community solar program. Stakeholders, including the California Environmental Justice Alliance, Coalition for Community Solar Access, and other groups, are calling on the CPUC and Governor's office to finalize a community solar plan. With an October deadline looming for the Inflation Reduction Act's Solar For All funding, the pressure is on to establish a program that will allow California to compete for federal funds and ensure equitable access to renewable energy. As the world transitions to sustainable energy sources, community solar, combined with battery storage, presents a scalable solution to bolster grid reliability and provide clean energy across California. The CPUC's ongoing proceedings will determine the fate of these essential community renewable energy programs and their impact on California's clean energy landscape. Stay informed and join the discussion on California's energy future with HRG. #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Innovation Let's work towards a future where clean energy is accessible to all. https://lnkd.in/g8Q859VT

Solstice moves at the speed of trust as we organize, educate, and innovate to make solar accessible for every American. And we accomplish this as the most trusted name in Community Solar! In the article by Stephen Macharia, "One of the most significant advantages of community solar is its ability to empower communities that may face barriers to traditional solar adoption. These barriers can include factors such as: 1. Financial Constraints 2. Physical Limitations 3. Rental Properties By overcoming these barriers, Solstice and the Community Solar platform open up access to clean energy for a broader range of individuals and communities, promoting energy equity and environmental justice....." SOURCE: https://lnkd.in/gmMu2PcB #solstice #communitysolar #phildelnegro