Not Fishing but Important Solar Information for California
Summary
PG&E, So Cal Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric are lobbying the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to make consumer solar twice as expensive than it is today.
It’s a profit grab to kill rooftop solar, one that would put solar out of reach for the working and middle class, just when it is taking off.
Our goals are to keep solar growing; grow it more equitably so millions more working class people can get solar, including renters; and make solar-powered batteries more affordable so people can protect themselves from power outages.
The Latest: the Solar Tax is back
On May 9th, the CPUC formally requested input on three changes they are considering. The changes are essentially the same as their original December proposal, dressed up a little differently:
- A Solar Tax of $400 to $600 per year on average, instead of the $700 / year in the original proposal
- An 80% cut to the credit solar users get for sharing their extra energy with the grid. The only difference from the December proposal is the “solar cliff” happens in four years instead of right away.
Ways you can help Save California Solar
1) Call the Governor’s office. Get everyone you know to do the same.
His # is (916) 445-2841. His lines are open 9-5 Monday thru Friday. We need to flood his office with calls and keep those calls coming.
Sometimes his lines shut down. Sometimes his voicemail box is full. Sometimes you have to stay on hold. Please warn people of this and encourage them to keep at it.
Here’s a sample script. Modify as you see fit to make it personalized:
“The CPUC’s latest rooftop solar plan is as bad as their first proposal. California should not tax the sun, period. We need more solar, not less. Gov. Newsom must show leadership, right now.”
2) Attend a No Solar Tax Protest on June 2nd in LA or San Francisco. The events will be held in conjunction with the June 2 meeting of the CPUC. Our goal is to create the largest ever submission of live and video-recorded public comments in CPUC history. We need thousands to show up.
RSVP for Don’t Tax the Sun Rally – LA –Gather with thousands of solar supporters at Grand Park in LA to make sure the CPUC hears from SoCal! The day will kick off with powerful speakers followed by an opportunity for all attendees to record a short video and submit it to the CPUC and the Governor. We’ll also have food trucks, sign making stations, information booths, and other activities for everyone.
RSVP for Don’t Tax the Sun – SF – Look the CPUC in the eye and tell them what you think in person on June 2nd! We will kick it off with a rally on the steps of the CPUC, and then help you sign up and speak directly to the CPUC. And, of course, we’ll have refreshments!
3) Write another comment to the CPUC. Here is their comments portal. In your own words, tell them why we should not be taxing rooftop solar, and why they should not be trying to make rooftop solar less affordable for middle and working class people.
4) If you have a social media account, post a message.
Here’s a sample:
The people said #NoSolarTax so why is @californiaPUC still pushing a #SolarTax? @GavinNewsom please be a leader and #SaveSolar https://solarrights.org/solartaxisback
There are a lot of pro-solar accounts on social media that you can follow.. For starters, here are Solar Rights Alliance’s accounts:
5) Write a letter to the editor. Here are some tips.
6) Hand-write a short letter to the Governor and mail it the old-fashioned way, through the US Postal Service! So few people mail letters these days that yours is more likely to be noticed. Here is his address: 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814
7) Sign up to give public comment at an upcoming CPUC meeting. Here’s instructions
8) Distribute a flyer to solar homes in your neighborhood to alert them to the threat to solar. Here’s some guidance and a flyer you can modify, download and print.
9) Get your local City Council or County Commission to take a position against the utility proposals and in favor of keeping solar growing. Here’s a sample: resolution adopted by the City of Richmond
10) Join our Texting Team. Help us send text messages to remind people to take actions like calls to the Governor, RSVP for events, etc. If you’re interested, send an email to [email protected].
Background information
General Purpose
Information refuting the utilities’ false “cost shift” claim
- Utility industry memo from 2016 outlining strategy to go after rooftop solar (“cost shift” strategy starts on p. 22)
- 2018 state decision to cancel $2.6 billion in powerline spending because of rooftop solar & energy efficiency
- Vibrant Clean Energy study showing how solar can help cut consumers’ energy bills by $120B over the next thirty years.
- Solar Rights Alliance white paper: The Utility “Cost Shift” Fallacy: The accounting methods behind the utilities’ claims about rooftop solar
- Solar Rights Alliance blog, with stream of articles that go in-depth
- California Alliance for Community Energy white paper: Newsom’s CPUC vs the People of California
- Clean Coalition / Protect Our Communities Foundation webinar on how rooftop solar reduces the cost of long-distance power lines
- Protect Our Communities Foundation webinar on how rooftop solar can reduce power line spending in San Diego County
- Letter to NRDC from environmental justice leaders outlining why the “cost shift” claim is harmful to working class communities
- Article by Crystal Huang of People Power Solar Coop on why the “cost shift” claim is designed to entrench the utility monopoly
- Opinion article by Pastor William Smart of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the LA Sentinel
- Infographic: The Path to More Equitable Solar
