Last week assembly member Chris Ward (D-San Diego) introduced AB 1260Legislation designed to strengthen and expand the first framework for the California Community Solar + Storage program, founded by AB 2316. By providing a fair compensation for solar projects for the community and creating a viable path for widespread adoption, AB 1260 would reduce energy and the lust of the admission of the shovel of the withdrawing of the shovel of the shovel of the shovel of the shovel of the shovel of the Showing of Showing of Showing of Showing of Showing of Showing of Showing. Grid.
“California today needs affordable, clean energy solutions, not years later,” said Assembly member Ward. “This account will guarantee that families, tenants and companies – especially those who are unable to install solar energy on the roof – can benefit from local solar energy, while the energy costs keep low for every Californian.”
Repair a broken process and move forward
California has been struggling for more than ten years to set up a functional community assignment program, despite legislative efforts and widespread support for consumer proponents, environmental groups and stakeholders in housing. The most recent program design of the CPUC was not the intention of the legislative power, so that only a handful of projects remained viable under the current rules.
“This legislation makes clear what the legislative power and the governor were planning when AB 2316 was hired almost three years ago,” said Derek Chernow, Western Regional Director at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “By recognizing the full value that Community Solar + offers storage to the network and local communities, we can finally work a cost-saving program that expands access to millions of Californians.”
Priority to affordability for Ratepayers in California
Households and companies in California have confronted with some of the highest electricity rates in the nation, a burden that continues to grow in the midst of rising utility costs. AB 1260 treats this problem directly by reducing the costs for both participating customers and the wider schedule. The bill requires that community-zonne projects provide guaranteed invoice savings to subscribers, with at least 51% of the capacity that focuses on low-income customers. Moreover, it is expected that community Zonne-Zonne-Zon on the state’s option will be allowed for the mandate of the solar house mandate of the state, expected to save billions in construction costs and at the same time expand access to clean energy.
“If assumed, this bill would lead to a community call that could access access to a cost -effective source of renewable energy for millions of Californians,” said Lauren Kubiak, Senior Scientist, California, Climate & Energy at National Resource Defense Council (NRDC).
Apart from direct invoice savings, the expansion of the Solar + storage of the community speeds up the use of distributed energy sources (Ders), which help reduce the general electricity costs for all Californians. By generating electricity closer where it is needed, Community -Zonne -Zonne -Energy reduces the need for expensive transmission -upgrades, the reliability of the network and balance improves demand and supply during peak periods. The bill uses private capital to modernize the distribution system, thereby guaranteeing a more cost-effective and resilient energy infrastructure for the state.
The most important provisions of AB 1260 are:
- Guarantee affordability by devoting at least 51% of the capacity of each project to customers with a low income, which saves account for those who need this most.
- Ensure a fair reimbursement for community storage projects for community storage by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to coordinate the compensation policy for long -term principles for distributed energy sources.
- Strengthening the resilience of the energy by demanding utilities that they treat community storage on solar energy +, such as all other distribution-related energy sources that offer local benefits.
- Expanding the energy access by Community-Zonne-Zon into a functional compliance option for the mandate of solar-on-new house in California, which will help reduce housing costs and at the same time meet clean energy requirements.
- Creating well -paid trade union courses by requiring prevailing wages for employees who build these projects.
Building a stronger, just energy seeking
With 19 states and the District of Columbia, California already has the opportunity to reclaim leadership in distributed clean energy. With the support of more than a dozen local and national energy, housing, environmental rights and lawyer organizations of Rates, AB 1260 ensures that everyday Californians – not only those who can afford on the roof of Zonne -Energy – participate in the clean energy transfer of the state while reducing their electricity accounts.
“The fat -printed clean energy policy of California requires real solutions that work for everyone,” said Chris Ochoa, senior counsel at the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). “This bill gives housing builders and developers of real estate finally a practical way to get the solar mandate of the state, while the housing costs are reduced and delivers reliable, affordable energy.”
News item from CCSA