CPUC Delays Community Renewable Energy Act, Impacting Solar Access for Low-Income Californians Amid Utility Opposition.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has delayed the implementation of the Community Renewable Energy Act (AB 2316), which aims to create a community renewable energy program, including community solar-plus-storage, for nearly half of Californians who rent or have low incomes. The bill was sponsored by the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), supported by groups like SEIA, GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and more. However, investor-owned utilities, which serve over 75% of the electricity usage in the state, opposed the bill. The CPUC’s proposed decision to review the Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) stated that it conflicts with federal law and does not meet the requirements of the bill, a bill developed by CCSA. Despite California falling behind Texas as the number one solar state in the nation, the CCSA argues that a truly scalable community solar program in the US cannot meet the DOE’s goals without a truly scaled community program.