National Net Metering: Another Goal for the Tribe

In an earlier blog post, I shared about California AB560 a net metering bill being considered by the California state senate. The bill moved through the California Senate Energy Committee 9-1 yesterday, but still has a couple of critical votes to clear. This is an important bill for at least three reasons that I can think of. First, its passage will further open up the solar residential and commercial market. Second, its passage is essential in order for another bill, AB920 (a bill that is about creating fairness within California’s solar market and about spurring ever greater consumer interest in investing in solar power bringing with it important environmental and economic benefits to the state) to pass, bringing a little more logic and sanity to solar energy policy. Finally, I believe that the nation looks to California as a leader in energy and climate control legislation.

A national net metering policy would make a lot of sense. It sets up the classic debate about Federal government versus state's rights, but the quality of the environment is clearly a national, if not global issue that begs for a national net metering policy. In addition, any energy policy that moves us away from fossil fuel energy is really a national security issue. There are many issues, where I argue passionately for state's and local community rights and against big government, but this is not one of them.

The net metering issue is really quite simple: just think of being able to turn your electricity meter backwards when your solar panels generate power. Why should anyone be afraid of this? Clean energy channeled into the grid, thereby reducing the demand for energy that comes from other sources. We're worried that we'll convert to solar too fast? Now wouldn't that be a nice problem to have?

A national net metering policy would perhaps have the effect of further accelerating the development of a national (intra-national) and international smart grid. Admittedly, this will take time, but in theory a global smart grid will solve one of the largest problems facing the industry: wasted energy...energy generated but not used. Until we develop advanced energy storage technologies or a global smart grid, this will remain a large cost item to the utility industry.

Clearly there are many issues facing us as we all work to make solar power mainstream. National net metering is one of the vital issues. It is important that we keep talking and blogging about it. Let's join together and keep the drums pounding.

Support California Solar Power Bills...NOW!

In the last blog I wrote about the Vote Solar Initiative and the great work they are doing to bring solar power into the mainstream. They must continually overcome numerous obstacles. Their website is a "must bookmark" and "must regularly visit" for anyone who is passionate about making solar power ubiquitous. The folks at Vote Solar are constantly juggling the many projects that are in progress and relavent to their (read: our) cause. They work closely behind-the-scenes with states and municipalities on a lot of research and policy development. They also work closely with Solarnation, an organization focused more on community activism than in municipal support. From time-to-time, they also publicly take the lead on vital issues. Now is one of those times.

Perhaps you have seen emails and tweets going around asking you to take action on an urgent bill coming before the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee on June 30. If you have, I hope you have acted. If not, here it is straight from Vote Solar:

Don't put the brakes on solar in California

The California solar market faces a serious roadblock. Net metering--the policy that allows you to roll you meter backwards when you generate more solar electricity than you use--is currently capped at 2.5 % of system peak load. At current growth rates, we'll likely hit this limit in parts of the state during this legislative cycle. If the Legislature does not act, California's solar industry would take a serious hit.

Net metering makes solar systems more economical, and saves all ratepayers money by reducing peak demand.

AB 560 (Skinner) would raise the cap to 10%. It's passed the Assembly, and faces a key hurdle in the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee on June 30. Can you take action now?

All the state utilities, including the self-appointed champion of solar PG&E, oppose this bill. Apparently, having too much solar power too fast is not good for somebody. PG&E spokespeople say "not good for their non-solar customers," while the bill's supporters speculate it's more of a bottom-line sort of concern. In any event, there is an opportunity for you and I to fight against the utilities' lobbying attempts and make your voice be heard. All you have to do is two things: (1) go here and sign the message, and (2) pass the link to this blog or to the Vote Solar page to as many Californians as you know.

AB560 is not the only bill that we all need to see passed. The Mercury News points out that PG&E is also opposed to a second bill in the works:

AB 920, would change the way customers with solar installations are paid for surplus power. Utilities now give them full retail rate credit on their monthly bill that can be used to offset the customer's energy consumption at other times, like nighttime. But at the end of the year, leftover credits are zeroed out. AB 920 would require utilities to pay for credits or any electricity left over at the end of the year, although at a lower rate, or allow them to be rolled over to the next year.

Many of the current solar power customers to whom I have spoken were not familiar with any of the net metering details currently in place, let alone about these two bills. It's up to us to keep these issues in our mainstream conversations. It's up to us to pass this on to as many people as possible.

To keep up will all legislative activities in California, go here.