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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has restarted its work on its controversial overhaul to the state's solar energy-focused net energy metering policy.
Work on the so-called "NEM 3.0" policy was paused indefinitely by the CPUC in February after receiving backlash from Gov. Gavin Newsom, renewable energy advocates, and celebrities. The CPUC reopened the record on May 9 in an effort, it said, to gather more information.
The Administrative Law Judge overseeing the revamp to California's net metering policy asked for comments on the transition from one net metering policy to another, non-bypassable charges on gross consumption, and community distributed energy resources.
On June 10, Vote Solar and the Solar Energy Industries Association submitted a list of recommendations in response to the judge's request.
Revising California's net metering policy would impact roughly 1.3 million rooftop solar customers.
The proposal, issued by regulators in December, received harsh criticism from solar companies, renewable advocates, and Newsom.
In addition, consulting firm Wood Mackenzie released analysis saying the proposed net metering tariff revisions would cut the state’s residential solar market in half by 2024.
The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) criticized the proposal, saying that regulators appeared to have “sided with PG&E and the other large investor-owned utilities” in an approach that “will make rooftop solar and customer-owned batteries more expensive and therefore out of reach of working- and middle-class consumers.”
The association said at the time that its early read of the proposal suggested that the rate paid for solar exported to the grid “appears to be approximately 5 cents/kWh,” down from 20-30 cents/kWh for residential customers. The association said that the proposed plan includes no transition glide path, meaning that the full reduction likely would take effect as soon as NEM-3 is implemented.
Charlie Coggeshall, senior analyst and regional director for Coalition for Community Solar Access, called the proposed decision “deeply disappointing.” He said in a statement it would delay action on developing a “workable community solar program in California” and “undermines” the state’s distributed energy market.
California, one of the largest solar markets in the U.S., is being watched closely by solar developers and advocates. Decisions in the Golden State have an outsized impact on the overall market.
Sachu Constantine takes over Vote Solar
Sachu Constantine, Vote Solar Executive DirectorIn May, Vote Solar named Sachu Constantine as the advocacy group's new executive director.
Constantine is Vote Solar’s second executive director, following the departure of co-founder Adam Browning, who led the organization through its first 20 years.
Constantine will be a guest on Episode 5 of the Factor This! podcast, which publishes on July 1.
In a statement, Constantine said that he would guide Vote Solar to “advance policies and programs that address the previous inequities of our fossil fuel dominant energy system and benefit communities that have historically been left out of the decision-making process.”
Zaid Ashai, Vote Solar’s board chair and CEO of Nexamp said “Sachu embodies Vote Solar’s core values and has a proven track record of strategic leadership.” He said that Constantine’s skill at scaling “powerful solar solutions in the face of the mounting climate crisis” will enable the organization to “drive even greater solar adoption as we grow our impact across the country.”
Since 2017, Constantine has served as Vote Solar’s regulatory managing director, and most recently as the organization’s interim executive director. Prior to joining Vote Solar, he spent five years as the director of policy at the Center for Sustainable Energy. While there, he was responsible for directing policy, regulatory and legislative efforts as well as building its reputation as a regional, state and national leader in the clean energy arena. He has also worked at SunPower Corporation, the California Public Utilities Commission and the Alliance to Save Energy.
Vote Solar is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that claims more than 94,000 members nationwide. It advocates for state policies and programs that promote clean energy and aim to achieve what it said is a more “environmentally just society.”
