We still have time to keep solar strong in California 1/26/22

Despite what the utilities are saying, rooftop solar benefits all ratepayers, creating affordable and more reliable power for us all. The CA Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC’s) new proposed rules would be the highest in the US!! while decreasing compensation for excess power going back to the grid. This will effectively stop new rooftop systems, which are critical to helping California meet our clean energy goals.




Governor Newsom is paying attention – Let’s keep the pressure up!

The lynchpin of energy justice is affordable and reliable power! The evidence is clear, grid systems that incorporate lots of rooftop systems are more affordable, saving all ratepayers hundreds per year, and speeding us away dirty fuels and towards cleaner air.

Add your voice to protect the climate and all ratepayers

Can you call into the CPUC meeting tomorrow, Jan 27? Call in by 9:45 to get in the queue to speak. Here are the excellent and detailed Instructions for Providing Public Comment at the CPUC by our friends at the Solar Rights Alliance.

Keep pushing the Governor! Call 916-445-2841. Leave a message that you support rooftop solar, the fastest path to 100% clean energy and affordable power for everyone; and are against the new fees and reduced incentives that will stop rooftop solar buildout in California. More and updated talking points in this toolkit

Email or hand-write a letter to the Governor! Follow the link to email, and send real letters, which stand out and get noticed to: 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 (See sample text for a letter below)

Email your friends! We have a copy-and-paste suggestion below; it’s also in the toolkit.

Keep posting to social media! Ideas (and there are more in the toolkit):

Rooftop solar benefits *all* ratepayers by lowering costs & increasing resilience! Low and middle households account for almost 50% of installed systems w more coming as costs drop. We need rooftop solar for the fastest route to clean, affordable, resilient energy @GavinNewsomThe lynchpin of energy justice is affordable, reliable energy. Rooftop solar provides exactly that. Stop the #UtilityProfitGrab @GavinNewsom

Sample text for emails to the Governor and your friends

Email or Snail Mail Governor Newsome

Re: CPUC NEM 3 proposed rules

Dear Governor Newsom,

The fastest path to 100% Clean Energy in California depends on rooftop solar. Rooftop and other small, distributed systems work with utility-scale projects to increase stability and resilience – while speeding the transition to clean energy, and cleaner air. Rooftop solar reduces costs for all ratepayers: a twenty-first century grid that includes diverse sources of distributed energy will keep rates low for everyone. Local energy for local use reduces network maintenance costs and the need for new capacity.

Big utilities earn outsized returns on large projects, which is at odds with building an affordable and resilient 21st century grid. The utilities are fighting for policies that will stop rooftop solar in its tracks: a $65-90 monthly solar penalty fee and a drastic reduction in the credit solar consumers receive for the excess energy they produce.

Compensation for excess rooftop energy, net metering, helped California reach one million solar rooftops. As prices for rooftop solar have come down, adoption in working and middle-class neighborhoods has increased, and is now about half of all new solar installations. Affordable housing projects, schools and nonprofits increasingly rely on rooftop solar to reduce their energy costs. Power from the sun belongs to everyonethe utility profit grab is hampering California’s clean energy vision. It will cost California tens of billions over time and each ratepayer $295 a year, in addition to drastically slowing the transition to a modern grid and clean energy.

Governor Newsom, Californians are counting on you to support rooftop solar and stop the utility power grab. Keep California a solar state by blocking the utilities’ cynical tactics. Protect fair compensation for excess energy, and block a solar penalty fee.  Thank you,[Your name, address (at least city)]

Email your friends

Hi Friend!

Did you know that California’s Public Utilities Commission has proposed new rules that would create the largest monthly fee in the nation  – $65+/month – for folks with rooftop systems… by far? AND would dramatically cut compensation for excess energy going back to the grid? I’m working with 350 Bay Area to call attention to this proposal because the fastest path to 100% Clean Energy in California depends on rooftop solar. Rooftop and other small, distributed systems work with utility-scale projects to increase stability and resilience – while speeding the transition to clean energy, and cleaner air. And our air in California is dangerously bad.

Rooftop solar reduces costs for all ratepayers, while providing grid stability. Multiple studies show that a 21st century grid including lots of rooftop and other small community solar systems will create low rates for everyone. Local energy for local use reduces network maintenance costs and the need for new capacity. Now that rooftop systems have gotten cheaper, almost half of the systems are on low- and middle-income roofs. Affordable housing projects, schools and nonprofits increasingly rely on rooftop solar to reduce their energy costs.

Big utilities earn outsized returns on large projects, and are fighting for policies that will stop rooftop solar in its tracks. Power from the sun belongs to everyonethe utility profit grab is hampering California’s clean energy vision. Are you interested in pitching in? Click here for a toolkit for contacting the Governor, and you can copy and paste this email to send to your friends.

Your friend in the sun,
xx

The fastest path to 100% Clean Energy in California depends on rooftop solar. California will not achieve its climate goals without continued growth of small rooftop and community solar installations.  Demand good, local jobs, and a clean, affordable, safe and resilient 21st century grid that strengthens and protects our communities.

ROOFTOP SOLAR BENEFITS EVERYONE Thanks for taking action,- Laura, Sahm and Claire for the Clean Energy TeamPS Let’s keep this up till we win! 
350 Bay Area · www.350BayArea.org