Solar Battle of the Bands Returns, Co-Hosted by Intersolar & Energy Storage North America and the California Solar & Storage Association

Official After Party to Deliver Superb Networking, Entertainment, and Community-Building

SAN DIEGO, CA – Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA), the industry’s flagship solar + storage event, today announced it is partnering with the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) to bring back a well-loved solar industry event, Solar Battle of the Bands (SBOB). As the official After Party of IESNA 2025, SBOB will be held on February 26, 2025 at Moonshine Flats in San Diego, CA.

“We’re thrilled to be working with CALSSA again on an event—SBOB—that has been an integral part of Intersolar’s history and that we know will be a must-attend part of IESNA 2025,” said Wes Doane, Vice President, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America. “Not only will you be able to listen to talented musicians from the solar industry and network with your peers, by attending you’ll also be supporting the important work CALSSA does advocating for California’s solar and storage industry.”

Thoughtfully developed to connect, refuel, and entertain IESNA attendees and local clean energy professionals and advocates, the After Party begins with a dedicated networking mixer before transitioning into the Solar Battle of the Bands live music event. The crowd-favorite concert will feature bands from different solar companies, highlighting the talented musicians whose professional work supports the solar + storage industry.

“The best solar party of the year is back!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director, California Solar & Storage Association. “No one in the solar industry is in it just for the money. We are all in it for the cause and there’s nothing like music to bring us all together to celebrate our shared vision and collective hard work building the most powerful form of clean energy in America.”

Get Involved

1. To attend Solar Battle of the Bands—and secure access to 550+ industry-leading exhibitors, 24 solar, storage, EV charging infrastructure, and manufacturing conference sessions, engaging networking luncheons, and more explore IESNA 2025 and register today.

2. Event sponsorships are available, with proceeds benefiting CALSSA. For more information, contact Josh Buswell-Charkow, Deputy Director, CALSSA.

3. For a limited time, CALSSA is accepting band applications. To get started or learn more, email SBOB@calssa.org.

About Intersolar & Energy Storage North America
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) is the premier US-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, EV charging infrastructure, and manufacturing. Dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, IESNA events deliver insightful education, invaluable networking, and an immersive exhibit hall experience. The flagship event takes place February 25-27, 2025, in San Diego, California; the regional event debuts November 19-20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. To learn more, visit intersolar.us.

About The California Solar & Storage Association
The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) has advanced the common interest of the solar and storage industry for over 45 years, making California the most robust market in the U.S. The association is the state’s largest clean energy business group with over 700 member companies representing an array of businesses that manufacture, design, install, finance and provide other resources to the growing local solar and storage market in California. Learn more at calssa.org.

About Solar Battle of the Bands
Solar Battle of the Bands (SBOB) is a unique solar industry party, music competition, and major fundraiser for the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA). Founded in 2011 by Johan Alfsen with the support of Quick Mount PV, it was donated to CALSSA in 2017, becoming an important fundraiser and industry event. Following a four-year hiatus, it returns February 26, 2025 to Intersolar & Energy Storage North America.

CALSSA Statement on Governor Vetoing SB 1374 and Making Solar Unaffordable for Schools, Farms and Apartments

Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1374 (Becker) to roll back a rule passed by California’s Public Commission (CPUC) that stripped away the benefits of going solar from schools, farms, and apartments. The CPUC rule denies those types of multimeter properties the ability to use the solar energy they produce on-site, and instead forces them to buy their own solar back from the utility at full retail prices. In doing so, the rule eliminates a major incentive to go solar at a time when California should be ramping up solar installations.

Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association issued the following statement on Governor Newsom’s veto:

California should be in the golden age of solar, but our state's regulators – backed by powerful utilities that fear solar competition – are intent on halting California’s clean energy progress. 

Time after time the CPUC has sided with utilities to make solar less affordable for Californians. First they drastically reduced the credits residents in single family homes get for contributing their excess solar back to the grid, which dramatically slowed solar growth and led to the loss of 17,000 jobs. 

Then the CPUC went even further by preventing consumers on multimeter properties from using the solar energy they generate themselves and instead making them buy energy from utilities at the full retail rate. That decision put solar out of reach for schools, farms, small businesses and apartments that want to save money and do their part for the environment. 

Then the CPUC went even further by preventing consumers on multimeter properties from using the solar energy they generate themselves and instead making them buy their own solar energy back from utilities at the full retail rate. That decision put solar out of reach for schools, farms, small businesses and apartments that want to save money and do their part for the environment. 

By vetoing SB 1374, Governor Newsom reaffirmed the CPUC’s shortsighted decision. It is yet another step in the wrong direction and sign that California still is not serious about being a worldwide leader in affordable clean energy.

Despite this setback, solar advocates give a special thanks to Senator Becker for being a solar champion. We are especially appreciative of the active and strong coalition of schools, renters, and farmers who made their voices heard and helped SB 1374 reach the Governor’s desk.

Clean Energy, Consumer and Environmental Advocates Win Preliminary Injunction to Block Controversial CSLB Ruling that would Slow Battery Installations, Hurt Green Jobs

SAN DIEGO—A coalition of clean energy, consumer protection, and environmental groups are celebrating a preliminary injunction ruling today that will halt enforcement of a California rule that would severely restrict solar contractors from installing and servicing battery storage systems.

The rule, approved by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in April, prohibits licensed solar contractors from adding batteries to existing solar panels or performing maintenance on batteries, including those they previously installed themselves. The rule also restricts solar contractors from building solar and storage systems above a certain size typical for off-grid homes or commercial customers. The rule was approved by the CSLB at the behest of the state’s investor owned utilities and their affiliated labor union despite the board’s own research finding zero safety issues or incidents across all residential batteries installed to date across the country, including 175,000 batteries in California alone. 

In the preliminary injunction ruling the San Diego County Superior Court focused on CSLB’s failure to analyze the economic impact of its rule. With the preliminary injunction granted, the CSLB rule is now on hold while the trial proceeds. 

“We are thankful the judge recognized the severe harm that would be done to small businesses, the loss of green jobs and how California’s progress in expanding local energy storage capacity would be slowed at a critical time,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSSA, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. 

The plaintiffs contended CSLB violated state law by failing to properly assess the economic and environmental impacts of the new rule. The plaintiffs argued it would cause immediate and irreparable harm by forcing hundreds of solar contractors to cut their workforces or close entirely, while harming consumers and undercutting the growth of renewable energy storage that is vital for grid reliability and meeting climate targets.

Clean energy and environmental advocacy plaintiffs asked the court to prevent the rule from taking effect on October 1, 2024 while their legal challenge proceeds. The preliminary injunction request was based on the fact that plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits of the case because the CSLB did not follow the Administrative Procedures Act or the California Environmental Quality Act in several important ways, including failing to consider alternatives or examine the economic impact on small businesses. 

If the rule went forward it would cause irreparable harm in the form of loss of business, professional reputation, customer goodwill, employment, and the disruption of contracted warranties, according to the motion.

The motion further argued a preliminary injunction serves the public interest by promoting solar and battery installations which are crucial to expanding renewable energy storage in California to increase energy reliability in the face of wildfires and power shutoffs, and to combat global climate change. 

With the rule change in place, there would simply be not enough certified electricians available to meet demand for new storage capacity, whereas licensed solar contractors are available and have installed and serviced storage systems for 40 years with a perfect safety record, according to the CSLB’s own research.   

The CSLB rule was only the most recent attack on rooftop solar and storage in California. 

“California keeps saying one thing but doing another when it comes to the fight against climate change,” said Del Chiaro. “In just the past two years, California slashed rooftop solar incentives, prohibited self-generation for schools and farms, and proposed expensive fixed charges that hurt energy conservation and local solar. This has to stop if we are to move forward as a state, keep energy prices low, and prevent future blackouts. Today’s ruling is a good first step, but there is more damage to undo before California can be a clean energy leader again.” 

CALSSA Statement Regarding PAO August 22 Factsheet

The California Public Advocates Office (PAO) recently published a factsheet that parrots utility talking points about rooftop solar, regurgitating a grossly inaccurate cost of rooftop solar in order to advocate for changing contract terms for two million solar consumers. The PAO’s unprecedented anti-solar activism is misguided and wrong.

At issue is customers who installed solar under net energy metering (NEM). The CPUC ended NEM in 2022 when it created the net billing tariff (NBT). That decision reduced the credit for energy that new solar customers send to the grid by 80% but it kept the state’s word to existing consumers by not changing the terms of their NEM contracts. Now PAO wants to reverse course and change the contracts for existing customers, 60% of whom are low-, working- or middle-class. Such a policy would impact renters, public school districts, small businesses, and city and county governments as well.

The PAO’s fact sheet is flawed in many ways. Here are three:

1. It claims that self-generation is a cost to the utilities. Energy generated by a rooftop solar panel and used by a consumer in real time without ever touching the grid is the same as energy efficiency or conservation. Counting this reduced sale of energy as a cost to the utility is plain wrong. No consumer is obligated to buy electricity from anyone.

2. It claims all grid infrastructure costs are fixed. If this were true, utility spending on transmission and distribution would not have increased 400% over the past 20 years while electricity demand remained flat. Utility spending is out of control because this is how utilities profit. Customers pay the utilities $21 billion for grid infrastructure every year. PAO should be focused on containing utility spending rather than undermining customer investments in solar.

3. The Avoided Cost Calculator contains faulty assumptions, and PAO further skews the results by misrepresenting the outputs. It looks only at immediate savings rather than average lifetime savings, ignoring the fact that local power will provide increased benefits over time as we vastly increase local consumption. It also undercounts usage from electrification and uses unrealistic assumptions for the future cost of large-scale renewables. This makes it seem easier and cheaper to manage the grid using faraway power plants, when it is already becoming harder and more expensive to rely on these resources.

For years, the State of California has encouraged people to invest in rooftop solar for the benefit of all. As a result, two million consumers have invested $40 billion to collectively build 12 gas power plants-worth of clean energy. If California goes back on its word, it would not only anger millions of people, it would undermine the solar market going forward as well.

Rooftop solar has been good for California. It has lowered costs for everyone, provided highly valuable electricity on hot summer days, and helped clean up the air. As California continues to push electric cars and heat pumps, the need for more rooftop solar will only grow.

California’s electricity affordability crisis is not because two million consumers put solar panels on their roofs. California’s electricity crisis is because the state’s investor-owned utilities have been poorly regulated for decades spending ratepayer money irresponsibly in order to turn record profits. Instead of blaming rooftop solar users, the PAO should do their job of reining in out of control utility spending and get California back on track building clean, affordable and reliable energy for everyone.

CALSSA Statement on SunPower Bankruptcy Filing

CALSSA executive director Bernadette Del Chiaro released the following statement on the news of SunPower’s bankruptcy filing: 

A giant California solar company has fallen amidst widespread disruption brought about by state regulatory policies that disproportionately favor monopoly utilities like PG&E at the expense of solar businesses, consumers and the environment. 

SunPower was a well-known clean energy pioneer born directly out of California’s historic role inventing, incubating, and developing solar energy for the world. While that world stage brought stiff competition for American companies, particularly manufacturers, and a number of other factors contributed to SunPower’s challenges, California’s devastating policy changes played an unquestionably large role in destabilizing the situation today. 

SunPower is the largest solar company to fall in the past year, but it is far from the only casualty. Dozens of companies have gone bankrupt or left California since the start of the “net billing tariff”, also known as “NEM 3”, in April 2023. In total, 17,000 jobs have been lost, sales are down 60%, and 81% of California solar companies remain concerned about their ability to stay in business. California solar is in a state of crisis at a time when it should be racing forward.   

It took California thirteen years to build its first million solar roofs, five years to build its second million, and one year to cut solar installations down to a ten-year low. California regulators seem set on continuing to damage the solar industry, stripping solar contractors of their ability to install batteries and adopting high fixed charges that hurt solar users – 62% of which are low- or middle-class and 58% of which are people of color. 

All this in the name of a utility lie about a so-called “solar cost-shift” which scapegoats California families and businesses who embrace energy independence and clean energy. The truth is, PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric allow their spending to get out of control, ballooning their profits, and driving up electric rates. 

Rooftop solar and storage is the solution to raising rates. Solar reduces the need to build expensive power lines while creating competition and choice for consumers. This is especially important as the state electrifies. California regulators need to stop blaming consumers for their own failures in reining in out of control utility spending and start encouraging investments in local solar and energy storage once again. 

Despite the great loss of SunPower, California is still a place of sunshine and innovation. With the right leadership, the state can get back on track as a clean energy leader. 

CALSSA encourages solar dealers affiliated with SunPower to reach out to the Association for assistance. We encourage SunPower customers with concerns to call SunPower at 1-800-SUNPOWER, or your local SunPower dealer. If consumers still need assistance, CALSSA has a consumer assistance hotline, which you can find here.

Clean Energy, Consumer and Environmental Advocates File Preliminary Injunction to Block Controversial CSLB Ruling that would Slow Battery Installations, Hurt Green Jobs

A coalition of clean energy, consumer protection, and environmental groups filed a motion today seeking a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of a new California rule that would severely restrict solar contractors from installing and servicing battery storage systems.

The rule, approved by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in April, prohibits licensed solar contractors from adding batteries to existing solar panels or performing maintenance on batteries, including those they previously installed themselves. The rule was approved by the CSLB at the behest of the state’s investor owned utilities and their affiliated labor union despite the board’s own research finding zero safety issues or incidents across all residential batteries installed to date across the country, including 100,000 batteries in California alone. 

Clean energy supporters say the rule will severely harm small businesses, result in the loss of even more green jobs, and dramatically slow California's progress in expanding local energy storage capacity at a critical time.

"This misguided decision by the licensing board greatly limits who consumers can turn to for solar storage, without any real evidence of a safety issue," said Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG, one of the plaintiffs. "This red tape will delay services, increase costs for consumers, and make it harder for California to meet its clean energy goals."

The preliminary injunction motion, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, contends the CSLB violated state law by failing to properly assess the economic and environmental impacts of the new rule. The plaintiffs argue it will cause immediate and irreparable harm by forcing hundreds of solar contractors to cut their workforces or close entirely, while harming consumers and undercutting the growth of renewable energy storage that is vital for grid reliability and meeting climate targets.

Clean energy and environmental advocacy plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent the rule from taking effect on October 1, 2024 while their legal challenge proceeds. The preliminary injunction rests on the fact that plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits of the case because the CSLB did not follow the Administrative Procedures Act or the California Environmental Quality Act in several important ways, including failing to consider alternatives or examine the economic impact on small businesses. 

If implementation is not put on hold, the rule will cause irreparable harm in the form of loss of business, professional reputation, customer goodwill, employment, and the disruption of contracted warranties, according to the motion.

The motion further argues a preliminary injunction serves the public interest by promoting solar and battery installations which are crucial to expanding renewable energy storage in California to increase energy reliability in the face of wildfires and power shutoffs, and to combat global climate change. 

With the rule change in place, there simply are not enough certified electricians available to meet demand for new storage capacity, whereas licensed solar contractors are available and have installed and serviced storage systems for 40 years with a perfect safety record, according to the CSLB’s own research.   

“This licensing trick is straight from the utility playbook and will cause electricity rates to skyrocket while worsening the climate emergency,” said Roger Lin, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.  “People are dying from extreme heat and California desperately needs smart, resilient energy solutions. Instead, the board is propping up a brittle electricity grid that devastates critical habitats and promotes environmental injustice.”

The CSLB rule is only the most recent attack on rooftop solar and storage in California. 

“California keeps saying one thing but doing another when it comes to the fight against climate change,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSSA. “In just the past year, California slashed rooftop solar incentives, prohibited self-generation for schools and farms, and proposed expensive fixed charges that hurt energy conservation and local solar. Now they are undermining California’s emerging battery storage progress through severe workforce limitations. This has to stop if we are to move forward as a state, keep energy prices low, and prevent future blackouts.” 

Honoring The Late, Great Bill Walton

In Memoriam
Bill Walton
1952-2024

Bill Walton giving a pep talk to CALSSA members in a Zoom membership meeting & fundraiser for the organization in 2020.

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to basketball legend and solar energy champion, Bill Walton, who passed away on Monday after a battle with cancer.

Bill Walton was not only one of the world’s greatest basketball players he was also one of the world’s greatest rooftop solar advocates.

Because of his support of several CALSSA member companies, Bill ended up on our email list a few years ago, receiving newsletters and alerts just like this one. He read every one, keeping himself informed, and taking action to support our industry time after time.

In fact, just weeks ago he responded to our email requesting donations to our silent auction with a special sports memorabilia package. He donated to CALSSA’s auction every year, directly mailing the prize to the winner himself.

Bill’s greatest gift to the solar energy movement was his ability to rev people up for the fight while pushing forward a vision of love, beauty, and progress. He could get everyone down on the court giving it their all like a giant Solar Team Captain.

Among many other things he did for CALSSA, Bill made several videos. One was for our Covid-lockdown Stand Up For Solar fundraising event on Zoom in October 2020, and another was to help build political support to stop the solar tax and retroactive changes to net metering – as was being proposed and pushed by the CPUC in 2021. (Thanks in part to Bill, we ended up defeating the solar tax and the retroactive changes to customers that were proposed in the first CPUC NEM 3 decision). 

These two videos are worth watching (again, for some of you). It isn’t just that he’s enthusiastic about rooftop solar and batteries. Millions of people are as well. It is that he manages to inspire you to be a better version of yourself. To lead with a positive vision but to also be unafraid to call it like it is. A foul is a foul even if the game is beautiful.

To honor Bill in the best way possible we must redouble our own commitment to be the best team players we can possibly be. We are, each and every one of us, superstars in Bill’s eyes and we can do him and his legacy a great honor by recommitting ourselves to “the greatest challenge”, as Bill put it, which is to generate and manage energy sustainably.

Putting solar and storage on every home is the “biggest no brainer in the world”. Bill understood that. But he was also clear-eyed about the forces working against us. In one of his pep talks back in 2020 on the eve of our most recent NEM battle he said, "So, when the rejection comes, we know that we are right. And that we are going to keep coming back all the time and that comes down to the persistence, the perseverance, and the discipline to get it all done. So, I am looking forward to this incredible battle. The battle is on. I know the value of the team. When you have a team and when you value something, you are going to get what you want. Because whatever we value will flourish. So, as we are out there doing the challenges on a constant basis out here. Think of the other forces of history that have changed during the course of our lifetime and even before. It was never handed to us. It was never given to us even though we were right all the time. It takes people out there on a constant basis and I am proud, honored and privileged to be a part of this team and the fact that we are out there doing everything we can on a constant basis, it warms my heart, but it also allows me to sleep at night.” 

Thank you, Bill, for being our coach, cheerleader, star player, and most enthusiastic broadcaster all rolled up into one. We will miss you greatly, and we will continue, in your honor, the fight, the vision, and the hard work that’s required to create change. Go Team Solar!

Sincerely,

Bernadette Del Chiaro & Team CALSSA 

Uncontrolled Spending and Lack of Government Oversight Behind California’s High Electricity Bills

Rooftop Solar Is a Solution, Not the Problem

The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) released a new video exposing what’s really driving up electricity bills in California — uncontrolled utility spending and a lack of government oversight.

Since California passed deregulation in 1998, utilities earn as profits a percentage of their spending on things like transmission lines. The more money they spend, the more money they make. In addition, the majority of utility transmission spending is “self-approved,” meaning their spending is not regulated for necessity or reviewed to make sure it is in the public’s interest. Since 1998,PG&E, SDG&E, and SCE’s spending increased 500% — long before solar had gained mainstream popularity. 

But utilities continue to blame high electricity prices on solar customers using the same “cost shift” script, even after recent changes to net metering that dropped the value of solar energy shared back to the grid by solar homes and businesses by 70-80% overnight. 

In just the past 10 years, PG&E’s electricity rates soared by 127%, SDG&E by 72%, and SCE by 91%. To offset high electricity costs, more and more Californians are choosing to go solar while helping to protect the planet and saving all energy consumers money — whether they have solar on their roof or not. Economists estimate that solar roofs save everyone $3 billion every year in avoided generation costs alone.

Utilities are threatened by rooftop solar because every solar home cuts into utility profits since it reduces the need to build a bigger grid.

“Utilities hate competition from solar, and, facing political pressure from elected officials over rising rates and soaring profits, they are looking to scapegoat rooftop solar. Californians see the utility lie for what it is, but the close relationship between utilities and regulators means the false narrative has caught on with the state’s energy decision-makers,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSSA. “Today, California has two million solar roofs. Instead of slowing our solar growth we need to double it in the next six years and invest in other clean energy solutions in order to get utility spending under control and meet California’s climate goals.”

Higher solar and battery adoption, combined with continued investments in energy efficiency and conservation, could save ratepayers $120 billion by 2045. However, progress and cost savings can only happen if regulators start saying no to unnecessary utility spending and start saying yes to rooftop solar and batteries. 

300+ Solar Workers and Supporters Rally In Support of Solar Energy and Urge Sacramento to Keep California a Solar State

Package of bills would expand solar access, restore local clean energy jobs, and help get California back on track to reach climate goals

SACRAMENTO—Solar workers from across California traveled to the state capital on Wednesday to rally in support of solar energy, calling on lawmakers to keep California a solar state.

The solar industry is currently experiencing business closures and significant job losses in every part of the state after the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) decision to slash the value of solar energy contributed back to the grid by 70-80% overnight.

Since then, the solar industry has lost more than 17,000 jobs, representing 22% of all solar jobs in the state. A steep 87% decline in solar installations is also pushing California off its path to meeting renewable energy goals that are critical to the fight against climate change. 

“Solar energy is an essential part of California’s clean energy future,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) that organized today’s event. “Rooftop solar brings many benefits including consumer savings, more jobs, and protection of open space. California lawmakers must take action today to keep California a solar state.”

To help keep California a solar state, legislators introduced a series of bills aimed at expanding solar access, bringing back clean energy jobs and getting California on track in the fight against climate change. These bills include aligning net metering policies with the state’s ambitious clean energy goals, ensuring all of the benefits of solar energy are included in policy decisions, blocking high fixed charges, and making solar energy the official form of energy of California.

“It's utterly baffling that the state with the nation’s most ambitious record of advancing renewable energy and climate crisis relief has now sabotaged its own rooftop solar program,” said EWG President  Ken Cook. “Without a thriving residential solar sector, essential to allowing millions of working families to embrace clean energy, California’s emissions reduction targets under Governor Newsom are mere pipe dreams. The CPUC’s disastrous move last year dealt a severe blow to solar in the state, but there’s still hope if the legislature swiftly implements these critical measures.” 

Less than a year ago the Governor Newsom-appointed CPUC made drastic reductions to Net Energy Metering—the program responsible for lowering the costs of going solar and making California a solar leader. Since then, the solar industry has experienced devastating results in the form of business closures and depression-level layoffs.

Not only did CPUC’s decision crater the largest solar industry in the nation, it has made installing solar less financially viable for working and middle class families. The resulting decline in solar installations is also making it unrealistic for California to meet its own renewable energy goals that are critical to the fight against climate change. 

Despite the consequences, the CPUC has continued to stifle the growth of solar. Just three months ago, they voted to exclude schools, farms, apartments and small businesses from the benefits of solar. The CPUC is currently considering a new costly “fixed charge” scheme proposed by the utilities that would not only increase energy bills on millions of working and middle class households, but would harm the solar market further.

Legislation introduced to keep California a solar state includes:

• AB 2619 (Connolly): Requires the CPUC to revise their net metering tariff to better align with California’s 100% clean energy goals.

• AB 2256 (Friedman): Requires the CPUC to properly calculate all of the values of distributed generation including societal benefits.

• SB 1374 (Becker): Restores the right of consumers with multimeter properties to self-consume on-site solar energy.

• AB 1999 (Irwin): Places a reasonable cap on residential fixed charges, blocking the $30+/month charges currently on the table at the CPUC.

• AB 2054 (Bauer-Kahan): Extends to 10 years the time period that CPUC commissioners are barred from employment by a regulated entity after leaving the commission.

• SB 938 (Min): Prohibits electrical and gas corporations from lobbying with ratepayer dollars.

• SB 1305 (Stern): Requires utilities to procure from virtual power plants to meet resource adequacy requirements.

• AB 3118 (Wallis): Like the California poppy, this bill would establish solar energy as the official state energy of California.

CALSSA Statement on Appeal Court Decision to Uphold CPUC Net Metering Changes

“Under the CPUC’s leadership California is responsible for the largest loss of solar jobs in our nation’s history” 

Yesterday the Court of Appeal of the First Appellate District upheld the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) December 2022 “NEM 3” decision that drastically reduced the credits solar consumers receive for sharing their excess energy back to the grid. The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) released the following statement from CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro on the court’s ruling:

“The deck - in terms of the 2013 legislation requiring a reevaluation of net energy metering and the CPUC process itself - was stacked against solar from the beginning. Because of that we are disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, by the court’s decision. We are grateful for the efforts of our environmental partners to exhaust every opportunity to reverse a misguided change to solar incentives that is already costing 17,000 jobs, closing businesses, and pushing California off our track to 100% clean energy.”  

NEM 3 Background

Just over seven months ago the Governor Newsom-appointed California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made drastic reductions to Net Energy Metering — the program responsible for reducing the costs of going solar and making California a solar leader — by slashing the value of solar energy shared back to the grid by solar homes and businesses by 70-80% overnight. At the same time, the Commission and Governor Newsom promised to provide incentives for energy storage to help soften the blow but these incentives have yet to materialize or be fulfilled. 

Since the CPUC’s decision, the solar industry is experiencing devastating results in the form of business closures and depression-level layoffs at a time when California should be celebrating a golden age of clean energy growth. 

A survey of California solar and storage companies found 17,000 jobs have or will be lost by the end of 2023 due the recent net metering changes. The massive job loss represents 22% of all solar jobs in California and is the largest loss of solar jobs in U.S. history.

Despite the consequences, the CPUC continues to move in the wrong direction on solar. In November, the CPUC voted to stifle the growth of solar again, this time making solar unaffordable for multimeter properties like schools, farms, small businesses, and apartments.

For more information on solar job losses in California:

• Solar industry analysis press release

• Solar industry analysis report

• Media briefing webinar on solar industry analysis 

Significant Loss of Solar Jobs in Every Part of California Following CPUC Cuts to Solar Incentives

“Under the CPUC’s leadership California is responsible for the largest loss of solar jobs in our nation’s history” 

The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) shared a new breakdown of recent solar job losses, showing the impact is being felt in every part of California. 

Media note: Representatives from solar businesses experiencing hardships from around the state are available for interviews. A county-by-county breakdown of solar job loss is available by request.  

Just over seven months ago the Governor Newsom-appointed California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made drastic reductions to Net Energy Metering — the program responsible for reducing the costs of going solar and making California a solar leader — by slashing the value of solar energy shared back to the grid by solar homes and businesses by 70-80% overnight. At the same time, the Commission and Governor Newsom promised to provide incentives for energy storage to help soften the blow but these incentives have yet to materialize or be fulfilled. 

Since the CPUC’s decision, the solar industry is experiencing devastating results in the form of business closures and depression-level layoffs at a time when California should be celebrating a golden age of clean energy growth. 

A survey of California solar and storage companies found 17,000 jobs have or will be lost by the end of 2023 due the recent net metering changes. The massive job loss represents 22% of all solar jobs in California. CALSSA’s new breakdown of the survey numbers estimate no part of California is spared from the pain of solar job losses. 

“All over California we are seeing the grim reality of how the CPUC’s cuts to solar are taking livelihoods away from thousands of families,” said CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. “No one would expect a supposed climate leader like California to be pulling the plug on green jobs and our fastest and most accessible path to a clean energy future. But that is where we are today. Under the CPUC’s leadership California is responsible for the largest loss of solar jobs in our nation’s history.” 

Despite the consequences, the CPUC continues to move in the wrong direction on solar. In November, the CPUC voted to stifle the growth of solar again, this time making solar unaffordable for multimeter properties like schools, farms, small businesses, and apartments.

For more information:

• Solar industry analysis press release

• Solar industry analysis report

• Media briefing webinar on solar industry analysis 

Massive Layoffs, Business Closures, and Loss of Clean Energy Progress Since CPUC Slashed Rooftop Solar Incentives, New Analysis Shows

17,000 solar jobs lost due to CPUC’s drastic net metering cuts - largest in the nation’s modern history

CALIFORNIA—Together with local business and environmental leaders, the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) shared a new analysis on the impact of the recently adopted deep cutbacks to rooftop solar incentives on California’s progress toward 100% renewable energy, small businesses and green jobs. 

Download CALSSA’s solar industry analysis

Watch recording of webinar media briefing 

Just over six months ago the Governor Newsom-appointed California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made drastic reductions to Net Energy Metering — the program responsible for reducing the costs of going solar and making California a solar leader — by slashing the value of solar energy shared back to the grid by solar homes and businesses by 70-80% overnight. 

Since the CPUC’s decision, the solar industry has experienced devastating results in the form of business closures and depression-level layoffs at a time when California should be celebrating a golden age of clean energy growth. 

“CPUC commissioners claimed their decision was about ‘launching the solar and storage industry into the future.’ Instead they caused the nation’s largest-ever loss of clean energy jobs, pushed once thriving businesses out of the state or into bankruptcy, and derailed California’s fastest and most accessible path to a clean energy future. All as California holds itself out there as a world leader in the fight against climate change,” said CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro.

A survey of California solar and storage companies found 17,000 jobs have or will be lost by the end of 2023 due the recent net metering changes. The massive job loss represents 22% of all solar jobs in California. More pain is expected as 59% of residential solar and storage contractors anticipate further layoffs, and another 11% are still unsure.

The CPUC’s changes left an uncertain future for solar businesses. 70% of residential solar and storage contractors expressed concern about their business outlook. Nearly 43% (~300 companies) believe it will be difficult to stay in business this winter. 

“There is no way to launch an industry forward by making its products more expensive for consumers. The overwhelming reason customers go solar is to save money. When you take away the ability for consumers to save money it puts a brick wall in front of our whole industry,” said Carlos Beccar with Energy Concepts in Fresno. “We have laid off 50% of our workforce since the new rules came into effect”, Beccar added. 

With most solar companies being small and medium sized businesses, and with solar jobs being family-supporting career paths, the impact of closures and layoffs ripple across every community in California. 

The CPUC’s changes to net metering are also pushing California off its path to meeting renewable energy goals that are critical to the fight against climate change. To reach 100% renewable energy, California needs 3.5 times more solar energy than it has today. Rooftop solar, today, makes up half of the state’s solar market and is the fastest growing among all renewable energy markets. A resilient and reliable energy grid for an electrified future will require 7 times more energy storage capacity than the state holds today yet solar energy drives storage development. 

Those goals now appear out of reach as changes to net metering slammed the brakes on California’s solar and storage progress. Rooftop solar sales are down between 66% and 83% from the same time last year following the implementation of net metering changes. 

“Every sunny roof without a solar panel is a missed opportunity to power our society more cleanly and efficiently. These numbers shine a light on how recent cuts to solar incentives are slowing down the adoption of clean energy, when California instead should be speeding up solar and storage deployment to achieve its goal of becoming a state powered by 100% clean and renewable sources.” said Laura Deehan, Environment California Director. 

Despite the consequences, the CPUC continues to move in the wrong direction on solar. Two weeks ago the CPUC voted to stifle the growth of solar again, this time making solar unaffordable for multimeter properties like schools, farms, small businesses, and apartments.

Solar leaders shared ways for California to get its flagship renewable energy industry back on track, including rejecting proposals to make solar even more expensive for working and middle-class families by implementing expensive monthly fixed charges, which are currently under consideration at the CPUC. Industry leaders also called on cities and counties to cut red tape for utilities to eliminate connection delays, all of which make solar more costly for consumers and businesses alike. To jump-start the future of energy storage, solar advocates urged California leaders to think big by launching a “Million Solar Batteries Initiative” with a massive investment to make energy storage affordable for all types of consumers. 

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About CALSSA

The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) has advanced the common interest of the solar and storage industry for over 40 years, making California the most robust market in the U.S. The association is the state’s largest clean energy business group with 750 member companies representing an array of businesses that manufacture, design, install, finance and provide other resources to the growing local solar and storage market in California. Learn more at www.calssa.org.

CALSSA Statement on CPUC’s Vote to Exclude Schools, Farms, Apartments, and Businesses from the Benefits of Solar

“It is astonishing how intent the CPUC is on continuing to block the growth of solar at the expense of consumers and our state clean energy goals for the benefit of big utilities like PG&E.” 

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted today to approve changes to the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) programs that will make solar much less affordable for many types of consumers.

For properties with multiple electric meters like schools, farms, apartments, and small businesses in strip malls, going solar through the VNEM or NEMA programs will no longer be financially viable, which bring the benefits of going solar to consumers who otherwise would not benefit from Net Energy Metering (NEM), the program that makes solar more affordable by crediting consumers with solar systems for the excess energy they produce and share back with the energy grid. 

With this vote, the CPUC is denying schools, small businesses, apartment buildings, and farms the ability to use the solar energy they produce on-site, and instead forcing them to buy their own solar back from the utility at full retail prices. The changes eliminate a major incentive to go solar at a time when we need to ramp up solar installations.

“It is astonishing how intent the CPUC is on continuing to block the growth of solar at the expense of consumers and our state clean energy goals for the benefit of big utilities like PG&E.,” said CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. “Not only is California nowhere near the renewable energy capacity we need, the solar industry is already experiencing a loss of solar jobs and small business closures from the CPUC’s attack on solar for single-family homes last year. This decision is yet another loss for consumers and another step backwards for California’s clean energy goals and fight against climate change—the only winners here are big utilities and their shareholders. The CPUC and policymakers need to stop undermining and meddling with the successful policies that made California a solar state in the first place and get back to promoting true solutions for consumers and the planet.”

Before the vote, the CPUC’s proposal was revised to allow net metering for residential meters in apartment complexes. However, the economic incentives for building owners to install solar for the building is still lost as meters in common and shared areas like hallways, gyms, outdoor areas, and EV charging stations will not be able to participate. If building owners are not motivated to install solar in the complex, individual tenants cannot benefit from solar either. 

Solar advocates are urging Governor Newsom and other leaders to find ways to repair the damage done by the CPUC in order to keep solar growing, save green jobs, and help California get back on track with the state’s clean energy goals.

CPUC Revised Proposal on “Virtual Net Metering” and “Aggregate Net Metering” Still Puts Solar Out of Reach for Schools, Farms, Businesses, and Many Apartments

The future of solar for schools, farms, apartment renters, and businesses remains on the line with a vote scheduled for November 16 

San Francisco—The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released a new proposed decision late Wednesday night regulating how solar is used and credited on multimeter properties. The new proposal would still make solar unaffordable for California schools, farms, apartment buildings and businesses with multiple tenants. 

A vote by the CPUC on the proposal is scheduled for November 16, following multiple delays. A coalition of advocates and solar consumers are pressing for more changes in advance of the vote next week. 

“California should be in the golden age of solar,” said CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. “But our state's regulators – backed by powerful utilities that fear solar competition – seem intent on halting California’s clean energy progress. We are already seeing notable job loss and small business closures from last year’s attack on solar for single-family homes, which will  knock the state off track for meeting clean energy goals needed to fight climate change. Now the CPUC is doing even more damage, kicking an industry while it’s down, by putting solar out of reach for schools, farms, small businesses and apartments that want to save money and do their part for the environment.” 

At issue are proposed changes to the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) programs. The programs let properties with multiple electric meters install a solar system for the entire property, sharing one solar system’s electricity and net metering credits with all customers and meters on that property, including for shared energy needs such as EV charging. This brings the benefits of going solar to many types of consumers who otherwise would not benefit from Net Energy Metering (NEM), the program that makes solar more affordable by crediting consumers with solar systems for the excess energy they produce and share back with the energy grid.  

Last December the CPUC drastically reduced the value of solar credits for single-family homes under the so-called “NEM-3” decision. The CPUC’s original proposed changes to VNEM and NEMA, issued earlier this summer, went even further by denying multiple-meter properties the ability to consume the energy that they produce on-site. Instead, the proposal would force these consumers to buy their own solar electricity from the utility at full retail prices, even when using the energy directly in real time. The end result would essentially eliminate the incentive to install rooftop solar at apartments, farms, schools, and small businesses. 

Farm, schools, and small businesses with multiple meters are still left out from the benefits of going solar in the CPUC’s revised proposed decision released on Wednesday, which made no changes to the previous proposal regarding those types of properties. 

The revised proposal does take a step forward relative to the original one by allowing net energy metering for residential meters in apartment complexes. However, the meters in common areas of apartments would not be able to participate under the new proposal. That removes a big motivation for apartment owners to install solar in order to decrease costs for hallway lighting, outdoor lighting, office equipment, elevators, and shared resources like pools, laundry, exercise facilities and EV charging stations. If it is not cost effective for apartment owners to install solar, individual tenants cannot benefit either. In addition, making it difficult for apartment complexes to power EV chargers with solar would result in fewer EV chargers getting installed for tenants. 

Solar supporters and consumers, including tenant rights advocates, housing developers, farmers and school leaders from around the state have called attention to the harmful impacts of the CPUC’s proposal in terms of keeping solar affordable for all types of consumers and advancing clean energy as part of California’s fight against climate change. 

“This proposal weakens the economic incentives for solar adoption in multi-family housing by stripping away the cost savings for the building owner,” said Gary DeLong, Vice President, California Rental Housing Association. “Consequently, it hinders the transition to electric-powered buildings by blocking the use of on-site solar energy to adequately offset costs associated with electric vehicle charging and other electrification retrofits.”  

“This proposal undercuts the economics of putting solar on multi-family properties by eliminating any savings for the apartment building owner,” said Daniel Hardy, Founding Partner, Clear Capital, LLC. “In doing so, it also undercuts efforts to electrify apartment buildings by cutting off the ability to use onsite solar to cover EV charging and other electrification costs. Ultimately, the CPUC is harming our mission to protect the environment and support sustainable energy production for our communities.”

“Schools rely on Net Energy Metering Aggregation for affordable, reliable power in the face of rate hikes and frequent Public Safety Power Shut Offs which otherwise force us to reduce funding for direct services to students, or to shut down schools interrupting education, food distribution, emergency shelters, and other critical services,” said Nancy Chaires Espinoza, Executive Director of the School Energy Coalition. “Schools want to help our state meet its climate goals and to comply with new mandates, but we cannot install rooftop solar on school sites, convert district vehicle and bus fleets to electric vehicles, and install charging infrastructure in parking lots without any financial benefit to help us finance these significant investments.”

Hundreds of organizations and businesses representing clean energy and renters' rights advocates, affordable housing, farms, and schools—as well more than 135 local elected officials— are calling on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to reject proposals that make it nearly impossible for their constituencies to benefit from rooftop solar and battery storage. 

CPUC Postpones Vote on “Virtual Net Metering”

The future of solar for schools, farms, apartment renters, and businesses remains on the line with a vote now scheduled for November 2 

San Francisco—The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) postponed the vote regulating how solar is used and credited on multimeter properties. A proposed decision currently on the table would make solar unaffordable for California schools, farms, apartment renters and small businesses. 

A vote by the CPUC on the proposal, previously slated for this Thursday, is now scheduled for November 2nd. This is the second time the vote was postponed in the process. 

Solar industry representatives and solar consumers, including tenant rights advocates, housing developers, farmers and school leaders, are available for interviews.

At issue are proposed changes to the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) programs. The programs let properties with multiple electric meters install a single solar system for the entire property, sharing one solar system’s electricity and net metering credits with all customers and meters on that property. This brings the benefits of going solar to many types of consumers who otherwise would not benefit from Net Energy Metering (NEM), the program that makes solar more affordable by crediting consumers with solar systems for the excess energy they produce and share back with the energy grid.  

Last December the CPUC drastically reduced the value of solar credits for single-family homes under the NEM program. The CPUC’s proposed changes to VNEM and NEMA go even further by denying multiple-meter properties the ability to consume the energy that they produce on-site. Instead, the proposal would force these consumers to buy their own solar electricity from the utility at full retail prices. The changes would essentially eliminate the incentive to install rooftop solar at apartments, farms and schools. 

Hundreds of organizations and businesses representing clean energy and renters' rights advocates, affordable housing, farms, and schools—as well more than 135 local elected officials— are calling on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to reject proposals that make it nearly impossible for their constituencies to benefit from rooftop solar and battery storage. 

A recently adopted resolution by the Oakland City Council calls on the CPUC and Governor Newsom “to reject any proposals that seek to frustrate or dismantle the ability of multifamily tenants and schools to avail themselves of the benefits of local, renewable, and affordable energy through rooftop solar and battery storage.” Instead, the City Council urged the CPUC to “approve a net energy metering tariff for multifamily housing and schools that includes full credits and savings for multifamily tenants and schools from customer generated energy.” 

California Education Leaders Speak Out Against CPUC Proposal to Make Solar Unaffordable for Schools

SACRAMENTO—Education leaders from around the state are speaking out against a proposal being considered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that would make it unaffordable for schools to go solar in order to lower their energy costs and use the savings to support students and staff. 

At issue are proposed changes to the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) programs. The programs let properties with multiple electric meters install a single solar system for the entire property, sharing one solar system’s electricity and net metering credits with all customers and meters on that property. This brings the benefits of going solar to many types of consumers who otherwise would not benefit from Net Energy Metering (NEM), the program that makes solar more affordable by crediting consumers with solar systems for the excess energy they produce and share back with the energy grid.  

Last December the CPUC drastically reduced the value of solar credits for single-family homes under the NEM program. The proposed changes to VNEM and NEMA go even further by denying multiple meter properties the ability to consume the energy that they produce on-site without selling it all to the utility and buying it back at higher rates. 

The vast majority of schools in California have multiple meters on their campus and would be harmed by the CPUC proposed decision. The changes would essentially eliminate the incentive to install rooftop solar and battery storage in California schools. 

In addition to schools, the proposed changes would also discriminate against renters, farmers and other types of multimeter properties.  

Recently passed resolutions by the Oakland Unified School District and the Los Angeles School Trustees Association urged the CPUC and Governor Newsom to “reject the recent virtual net energy metering/net energy metering aggregation proposed decision for multimeter properties, as it will hamper or dismantle altogether the ability of schools to avail themselves of the benefits of local, renewable, and affordable energy through rooftop solar and battery storage.” Instead, school leaders in Oakland and Los Angeles called on state leaders to “approve a net energy metering tariff for schools that includes full credits and savings for multifamily tenants and schools from customer-generated energy.” 

Educators also spoke passionately against the CPUC proposal during the commission’s public hearing in late August. 

Bryan Clausen, a San Luis Obispo School Board Member shared how the proposed decision will greatly impact the district’s plan to add solar to ten of its schools. “At schools, most of our energy consumption happens during daylight hours. [...] As drafted, we would need to cancel our solar and battery programs because it would not be financially responsible for us to spend taxpayer money to deploy solar. (CPUC August 31 meeting at 56:61). 

Sasha Horwitz, a Legislative Advocate with the Los Angeles Unified School District, talked about how schools use onsite solar to help reduce operating costs so limited resources can be targeted to their community-based missions. The CPUC’s proposed decision will hurt that effort. “Increases in energy expenditures directly reduce funding for educational services. Rising energy costs take money directly out of our classrooms. The proposal would make it economically unfeasible for schools, community colleges, and universities to install solar and storage.” said Horwitz. She called on the CPUC to reject the current proposal and instead support property-wide netting “so that schools can benefit from the local renewable energy their own solar systems generate.”  (CPUC August 31 meeting at 1:05:20). 

Tina Fredericks, a Pasadena Unified School District Board Member, said the district is committed to being a leading voice in the fight against climate change. Because of that the district installed solar in 12 of its 25 campuses, with plans to build even more. The CPUC’s proposed decision would deny the district millions in annual savings it could invest in classrooms and teachers. In urging the CPUC to reject the proposals, Fredricks said “our children’s chance of a livable future is in your hands.” (CPUC August 31 meeting at 1:29:51).     

Sam Davis, an Oakland Unified School District Board Member, explained how the district has new bond money dedicated to addressing climate change with rooftop solar on all major school projects. The proposed decision will hurt the cost-effectiveness of those projects and thus takes money directly out of Oakland classrooms. (CPUC August 31 meeting at 1:55:22). 

A vote on the proposed decision by CPUC commissioners – originally scheduled for September 21 – is now expected on October 12. More information on VNEM, NEMA and the proposed changes is available here. 

As Deadline Looms, Which California Cities and Counties Are Doing Their Part To Cut Red Tape and Lower the Cost of Going Solar?

September 30 is the deadline for 210 California cities and counties to adopt streamlined permitting to make going solar easier and cheaper. New interactive map is available to help track progress.

SACRAMENTO— With the September 30th deadline fast approaching for California’s largest cities and counties to lower the cost of going solar by switching to an automated streamlined permitting process, solar advocates released an interactive map to help Californians see local progress. 

Using the color-coded map, Californians can see the status of their city’s or county’s efforts to implement streamlined permitting in order to cut red tape and lower consumer costs and delays when going solar. The map also provides information on the required compliance dates for each jurisdiction based on state law. 

The Solar Access Act (Senate Bill 379–Wiener), requiring instant and online streamlined permitting for residential solar and storage systems, was signed into law by Governor Newsom in September of 2022 to help make it easier and more affordable for Californians to go solar. Cities and counties can apply for grant funding through the CalAPP program administered by the California Energy Commission to help cover costs for implementing the new permitting process; the deadline to apply for funds was extended to May 1, 2024 and is on a first-come, first-served basis for all remaining funds.

SolarAPP+, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the Department of Energy, is one of the easiest, one-stop solutions for building departments to comply with the law. It is free for local governments to use and available to all jurisdictions in California and across the country. There are other software products also available to cities and counties throughout the state to comply with streamlined permitting requirements, such as Symbium. In addition to using currently available software programs, cities and counties can also comply with the Solar Access Act by developing their own online, instant, streamlined permitting system. 

Streamlined permitting software asks the contractor a series of questions to verify the system’s design is up to code and then issues a permit automatically for installation to begin. 

It is twice as expensive to go solar in California than many other developed places, in part, because of costs associated with permitting and interconnection with utilities. On average, it takes 13 to 19 days for California building departments to issue a permit, and it is not uncommon for wait times to take 60 or more days. The result is months of delays, thousands of dollars added to solar projects that are passed along to customers, and fewer homes going solar that otherwise would.

“California cannot meet its clean energy goals and bring rooftop solar and solar batteries to more people without local cities and counties streamlining their rooftop solar permitting process,” said Cailey Underhill, Advocacy & Development Director of Solar Rights Alliance. “It is one of the biggest obstacles to solar growth.” 

Streamlined permitting has the potential to dramatically bring down the cost of solar and storage in California by cutting red tape around permitting without sacrificing safety. All solar systems, even those permitted through automated software, must also pass a final inspection. Studies show that streamlined permits pass inspection with rates at, or better, than traditional permitting processes, many of which require the contractor to drive paper submittals to the building department and stand in line to submit the permit. 

“It is time to come up to the 21st century when it comes to solar permitting,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director of the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA). “Modernizing solar permitting processes and cutting red tape is a no-brainer for California.” 

“Solar contractors and local permitting authorities in communities from Chula Vista to Fresno to Redding are successfully using SolarAPP+ to cut down the review period for residential solar installations, and more communities across the state can take advantage of this platform,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “The software eases the entire process without sacrificing quality and safety, and in some cases, permits are issued within 15 minutes of entering them into the automated system. Not only does this drastically reduce review hours, backlogs, and associated costs, it allows for homeowners to go solar faster. This is critical to our nation’s clean energy goals, including making solar the cheapest source of electricity in the United States in the next decade."

CALSSA estimates that the broad adoption of automated permitting would lower the cost of a typical home solar system by $1,200 to $2,600, and for the typical solar and storage system by $2,300 to $5,100. 

Cities with more than 50,000 residents and counties with more than 150,000 residents must comply with the Solar Access Act by September 30, 2023. Cities with 50,000 or fewer residents have until September 2024 to comply. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents and counties with fewer than 150,000 residents are exempt altogether. Still, many exempt jurisdictions have adopted automated permitting anyway. 

Proposed Changes to Rooftop Solar Would Hurt Renters, Farms, and Schools

Groups Call for CPUC to Reject Utility-Backed Proposal to Make Rooftop Solar Unaffordable for Renters, Farms, and Schools

New rules proposed yesterday by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) would make it unaffordable for renters in multifamily housing, farms, and schools to benefit from rooftop solar and battery storage.  The proposed decision hurts renters in California by denying multifamily properties the ability to consume the energy that they produce on-site without selling it to the utility and buying it back at higher rates.

At issue are proposed changes to the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) and Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) programs. The programs let properties with multiple electric meters install a single solar system for the entire property, sharing one solar system’s electricity and net metering credits with all customers and meters on that property. This brings the benefits of going solar to many types of consumers who otherwise would not benefit from Net Energy Metering (NEM), the program that makes solar more affordable by crediting consumers with solar systems for the excess energy they produce and share back with the energy grid.  

VNEM and NEMA are essential for making solar accessible and affordable for apartment complexes. Farms, which have separately metered irrigation wells, commercial developments, and school and college campuses also rely on the ability to share solar generation and net metering credits. 

Last December, the CPUC issued a decision on the value of solar credits for single-family homes. That decision includes a distinction between energy consumed on-site and energy exported to the utility electric grid. It drastically reduces compensation to customers for exported energy, but allows customers to continue using their own generated electricity in real time. Under this updated program, known as NEM-3, customers consuming the energy they generate results in them buying less energy from the utility.

The proposed decision on virtual net energy metering does not include a distinction between energy consumed on-site and energy exported to the utility electric grid. It effectively prohibits customers from buying less energy from the utility even when they produce and consume energy on-site in real time. It would force customers in multi-meter properties—such as renters, small farmers, schools, and colleges—to sell all of their generation to the utility at low rates and buy it back at full retail rates.

The proposed decision is slated for a vote by the CPUC commissioners on September 21. If the CPUC finalizes the decision as proposed, it will likely end the ability of apartment buildings and many schools and farms to install solar and energy storage.

“Apartment complexes, farms, schools and commercial buildings represent a tremendous opportunity to grow California’s clean energy capacity while bringing the benefits of solar to many types of consumers who were previously left out,” said CALSSA Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. “Big utilities and our state’s energy regulators should not be treating people in apartments and other multimeter situations worse than consumers in single family homes. We know solar threatens utility profits, and they will stop at nothing to halt our progress – but this type of unfair discrimination is too much even for them.”  

Hundreds of organizations and businesses representing clean energy and renters' rights advocates, affordable housing, farms, and schools—as well more than 135 local elected officials—previously called on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to reject proposals from the utilities and CPUC Public Advocate to make it nearly impossible for their constituencies to benefit from rooftop solar and battery storage. The top recommendation in those letters was maintaining a distinction between self-generation consumed on-site and energy exported to the electric grid.

In addition to individual elected officials from around the state, local jurisdictions spoke out against the utility proposals. 

A recently adopted resolution by the Oakland City Council calls on the CPUC and Governor Newsom “to reject any proposals that seek to frustrate or dismantle the ability of multifamily tenants and schools to avail themselves of the benefits of local, renewable, and affordable energy through rooftop solar and battery storage.” Instead, the City Council urged the CPUC to “approve a net energy metering tariff for multifamily housing and schools that includes full credits and savings for multifamily tenants and schools from customer generated energy.” 

SolarAPP+, the One-Stop Solution For Cutting Solar Red Tape is Coming Soon to Santa Cruz County

Solar advocates shared how SolarAPP+ makes it easier and cheaper for people to go solar in Santa Cruz County and across California 

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA. — On Thursday, solar advocates celebrated Santa Cruz County’s progress in adopting SolarAPP+, an online permitting system developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the Department of Energy to make it easier and cheaper for people to go solar.

Santa Cruz County is in the final stages of testing and is on track to meet California’s September 30, 2023 deadline to fully transition to an automated instant permitting process for residential rooftop and storage systems mandated by the Solar Access Act (SB 379–Wiener).  Santa Cruz County also applied for grant funding through the CalAPP program administered by the California Energy Commission to help cover any costs for implementing the new permitting process.

Once fully adopted, SolarAPP+ can issue same day permits for rooftop solar projects that meet state codes, a significant improvement from California’s current permit timeline average of 13 to 19 days, which delays solar installations and passes on costs to consumers. The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) estimates that the broad adoption of SolarAPP+ would lower the cost of a typical solar system for consumers by $1,200 to $2,600 across the state, and for the typical solar + storage system, consumers could see costs lowered by $2,300 to $5,100.

Local solar advocates in attendance included:

• Supervisor Manu Koenig, First District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County

• Lisette Patrice Jones, Field Representative, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin

• Ben Davis, Senior Policy Advisor, CALSSA

• Daniel Camacho, CEO, Solar Motion 

In September 2022, Governor Newsom signed the Solar Access Act into law that requires most cities and counties to automate their permitting for residential rooftop and storage systems by adopting SolarAPP+ or functionally equivalent software. 

The first compliance deadline is September 30, 2023 for jurisdictions with more than 50,000 residents. Santa Cruz County is among about 240 California cities and counties required to begin issuing instantaneous permitting for residential rooftop solar and storage projects within the next couple of months. While some jurisdictions like Santa Cruz County have begun or completed the process of adopting a fully automated and instant solar and storage permitting system, many still need to initiate the process to meet the state’s deadline. Cities and counties can apply for grant funding through the CalAPP program administered by the California Energy Commission to help cover any costs for implementing the new permitting process; the deadline was extended to June 30, 2024 and is on a first-come, first-served basis for all remaining funds.

SolarAPP+ is the easiest, one-stop solution for building departments to comply with the law. It is free and available to all jurisdictions in California and across the country. The SolarAPP+ software asks the contractor a series of questions to verify the system’s design is up to code, runs automated code compliance and plan check, and then — for compliant systems — issues a permit automatically for installation to begin. More information about SolarAPP+ including a video of how it works in practice is available here.

Fast Facts:

• On average, it takes 13 to 19 days for California building departments to issue a permit, and it is not uncommon for wait times to take 60 or more days. The result is months of delays, thousands of dollars added to solar projects that are passed along to customers, and fewer homes going solar that otherwise would.

• It is twice as expensive to go solar in California than many other developed places because of costs associated with permitting and interconnection with utilities. SolarAPP+ has the potential to dramatically bring down the cost of solar in California by cutting red tape around permitting without sacrificing safety. SolarAPP+ permits pass inspection with rates at, or better, than traditional permitting systems. 

• CALSSA estimates that the broad adoption of SolarAPP+ would lower the cost of a typical solar system for homeowners by $1,200 to $2,600 across the state, and for the typical solar + storage system by $2,300 to $5,100.

• California cannot meet its clean energy goals and bring rooftop solar and solar batteries to more people without streamlining the local building department’s permitting process—it’s one of the biggest obstacles to solar growth.

• According to NREL, solar projects submitted through SolarAPP+ are installed and inspected on average 12 business days faster than projects using the conventional process.

• Streamlined permitting through SolarAPP+ also helps overstretched city and county building departments save time so they can focus on more complex projects. 

Thousands of small batteries could replace tomorrow’s giant power plants, helping avoid blackouts and lowering grid costs

The California Energy Commission voted today on a new program that will help avoid power outages by tapping into customer-sited batteries across the state

Embarking on a revolutionary way to power California’s carbon-free future, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved a new program that would tap into thousands of distributed solar-charged and standalone batteries located at homes and businesses throughout the state to meet the state’s growing electricity needs, particularly on hot summer evenings. 

The concept is sometimes called a “virtual power plant,” and it is now featured in an innovative new part of the CEC’s Demand Side Grid Support program. The program would allow fleets of customer-sited batteries to be remotely dispatched when demand for electricity is at its highest, the grid most stressed, and energy prices through the roof. Energy prices rise when supplies are tight, like in a heat wave when demand for electricity spikes to keep air conditioners running. Bringing fleets of batteries online during these high-price events will help respond to grid emergencies, avoid power outages, help lower prices for all ratepayers, and ultimately avoid grid emergencies in the first place.  

Approximately 100,000 solar-charged batteries are currently installed at businesses and homes throughout the state. These batteries have the combined capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt of power, which is the size of one nuclear reactor. Unlike a traditional power plant, these batteries are extremely nimble, with the ability to respond in an instant when energy is needed. 

“Energy needs in the 21st century demand innovative thinking and that is what the California Energy Commission is embracing today,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association. “California must do more to encourage consumers to adopt solar and battery technologies at the local level so that we can keep the lights on and the air clean.” 

The program adopted today is an early step toward a future electric system that could ultimately draw on millions of clean, distributed batteries to support the grid, communities, and residents. The battery virtual power plant pathway was proposed by the California Solar and Storage Association as a way for the state to take better advantage of the many strengths of customer-sited energy storage. 

The challenge for the state is to get more consumers investing in these batteries and to create programs and incentives to allow energy providers to tap into them during the small number of hours each year when the grid is most stressed. This challenge is supported, in part, by this new program but much more needs to be done to meet California’s ambitious electrification goals. 

The CEC passed guidelines for this program with a unanimous vote of 3 commissioners at its July 26 business meeting in Sacramento. With the passage of the new guidelines, Demand Side Grid Support providers—including companies that operate virtual power plants composed of customer batteries—are expected to enroll in the program and begin signing up customers as early as this summer.   

“Today’s vote marks one small step but a step in the right direction nonetheless,” said Del Chiaro. “We applaud the Commission’s action today and look forward to working with more California policy makers to build more clean energy for the benefit of everyone.”