Skip to main content

California Community Solar Update

In this episode – California Community Solar Update . . .

Today, we're diving into the ongoing saga of Community Solar in California. As you might know, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been grappling with how to regulate this growing sector. The program is poised to launch in July of 2024,  however . . . 

Net Energy Metering (NEM 3) and the Rooftop Solar Impact:

Let's rewind a bit. In December 2022, the CPUC issued a controversial decision called NEM 3. NEM stands for Net Energy Metering, and NEM 3 is the third iteration of this program. Here’s the big issue – NEM 3 significantly reduced the credit that rooftop solar users' received for feeding excess energy back to the grid.

This decision primarily affects those who install solar panels after April 2023. While NEM 3 doesn't directly impact Community Solar, it's an important context because it highlights the CPUC's ongoing efforts to balance the economics of solar power.

So what’s the Hold-Up?

The bigger story for today is Community Solar. This program allows Californians who can't install rooftop panels to subscribe to a solar farm and receive bill credits based on their share of the energy produced. It's a great way to expand access to clean energy, especially for renters and low-income residents.

As you might expect, the CPUC's proposed decision on Community Solar has been met with strong opposition, primarily from the utility companies. Critics argue it creates unnecessary hurdles for project development, hindering the program's growth.

Here are a few key concerns:

Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) Dispute: The proposed decision rejects the NVBT, a key design element that allows community solar projects to compete fairly in the electricity market. Opponents argue that this stifles innovation and limits Californians' options.

Low-Income Impact: Critics worry the proposal weakens support for low-income communities. Community Solar is crucial for expanding clean energy access to these residents, and a complex program discourages participation.

The Road Ahead:

The future of Community Solar in California remains to be determined. Here's what we know – A lawsuit challenging NEM 3 is headed to the State Supreme Court. The outcome could impact the broader regulatory landscape for solar power, including Community Solar.

The California Public Utilities Commission is revising its Community Solar proposal to respond to public feedback, and negotiations are ongoing.

Stay Informed:

The situation is fluid, and a final decision on Community Solar is yet to come. We recommend checking resources from organizations like the California Solar & Storage Association or the Coalition for Community Solar Access to stay current.

National Community Solar Programs Tracker: The Institute for Local Self-Reliance resource provides a detailed state-by-state breakdown of Community Solar programs, including legislation and project details (click the above link).

The Takeaway:

Community Solar holds immense potential for expanding clean energy access in California. While the CPUC's current proposal faces challenges, advocates are pushing for a program that's fair, accessible and promotes a thriving solar future. My listening friends, On the Fly, is about whatever comes to mind, and we will continue monitoring developments to keep you informed.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Time Travel, Roving Mics, and Muscle Memory

In this episode, the 2026 Sinkankas Symposium. Let’s get one thing straight: I didn’t arrive in a DeLorean. No flux capacitor, no dramatic lightning strike—just a Saturday parking pass and a name badge. And yet, somewhere between the rotunda doors and the first handshake, it happened anyway. This past Saturday, April 25th, I was transported—effortlessly and completely—back in time at the 20th Annual Sinkankas Symposium on the GIA campus in Carlsbad. Walking into that magnificent main campus rotunda early with my colleagues, Paul Mattlin and Glenn Wargo, felt like wrapping myself in a familiar, gem-encrusted blanket. It was less a building, more a family living room where nobody ever really forgets your name. The halls were quiet (a rare and beautiful thing), and the soft echo of our footsteps on the polished floors sounded exactly as I remembered it. For a moment, it wasn’t 2026—it was April 1997, my first time walking onto the beautiful, brand-new GIA campus as Director of Alumni. Som...
Post a Comment
Read more

Confidently Wrong: The Art of the AI Tall Tale

In this episode, A chat with Adamas the Chef on hidden recipes causing digital hallucinations. Pull up a chair and pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee—and please, for your own sake, taste it first. We need to have a quiet chat about why your computer sometimes decides to reinvent reality with the confidence of a five-star chef who has clearly lost his mind. In the world of technology, we call it a  hallucination . It sounds pretty dramatic, doesn’t it? As if the computer decided to ignore your instructions altogether in favor of a vivid, technicolor imagination that simply hasn’t met reality yet. But in truth, an AI hallucination isn’t a breakdown; it’s just a very confident, very polite mistake. Think of it like our friend Adamas , the Chef. Adamas is a master of the kitchen, but he is also a bit of a romantic who refuses to say “I don’t know.” When you ask him for a classic recipe he hasn’t made in years, he doesn’t stop to consult a cookbook—that’s far too pedestrian. Instead, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ode To Gemology

For over 80 years, students of gemology have struggled with spectrums, bewildered by birefringence, and simply plagued by pleochroism. The following sonnet is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, a glow to your heart, and a simple reminder that students of life and gemology rediscover nature's gifts every day.  Ode to Gemology , by a GIA on-campus student. Dispersion, fire, adventurescence. Orient, sheen, or iridescence. Refractive index, high or low. The luster should indicate that, you know. Polarization, double or single. What to do now, they intermingle. Pleochroic colors you really should see. Was that only two, or actually three? Birefringence should help you a lot. Use your polarizer and watch the spot. Now, did it jump most on low or high? Sure, you can get it if you really try! Your liquids should be an aid, I think. Does it float, suspend, or slowly sink? Just use your imagination now. (He doesn't see me wiping my brow.) Solid inclusions or only bubbles? Huh, th...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Cowardice of Corporate Jargon

Picture this: an email lands in your inbox. A colleague—maybe even a friend—needs a favor, a second set of eyes, a moment of your time. You sigh, stare at the glow of your monitor, and type: “I’d love to help, but I just don’t have the bandwidth right now.” Hit send. Problem solved. Conscience clear. Except it shouldn’t be. Most of us have said or sent that line at least once, hoping it would land gently. On the surface, it’s perfect—efficient, polite, even self-aware. And that’s exactly the problem. It lets you decline without ever quite telling the truth. You didn’t just say no; you softened the discomfort of being human until it barely felt like a feeling at all. Instead of admitting, I’m overwhelmed , or I don’t have the energy , you reach for the sterile vocabulary of a server room. You turn a feeling into a metric. A boundary into a system limitation. Apologies, my data transfer rate is capped. Please submit a ticket to my emotional help desk. It’s a clever little trick—and an un...
Post a Comment
Read more