Thoughts on Solar

While we wait, and wait, and wait some more for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to publish a new Proposed Decision for Net Energy Metering 3.0, the silence from Governor Newsom has been deafening.  And then, out of nowhere, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have done to the Florida solar industry what the CPUC tried to do here.  What am I missing?

The Sunshine State of Florida has a comparatively tiny solar market next to that of California - California has more than 1,400,000 rooftop solar installs compared to Florida’s 118,000, and the industry employs over 68,000 people in California versus only 11,000 in Florida, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) as of Q42021.  So you would think that California’s Governor - who is up for re-election this year - would get off the sidelines and into the game.  Yet all he has said publicly when asked about the original, disastrous, Proposed Decision, “We still have some work to do."  Yah think?

Meanwhile, far to Newsom’s right, DeSantis just vetoed a bill in Florida that would have gutted the rooftop solar industry there.  Amazing.

So what doesn’t Newsom get?  After all, every one of the Commissioners at the CPUC were appointed by Newsome.  Public comments from him would go a long way toward moving the CPUC to do the right thing.  And in an election year, his silence is frankly bad politics.  Rooftop solar consistently polls very well, particularly when compared to say, PG&E or SCE!

The California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) - which has been leading the fight against the CPUC’s efforts to kill the rooftop solar industry - put out a comment from Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro on the veto from DeSantis, linking it to the NEM 3.0 controversy:

Governor DeSantis did not fall for the utilities’ playbook of protecting their profits and monopolies by eliminating competition from rooftop solar. Governor Newsom’s administration should not fall for it either. When it comes to keeping solar affordable, growing, and contributing to our clean energy future, California should be not only keeping pace with Florida, but leading the world.

As usual, Bernadette is spot on.

Our response has got to be to keep the pressure on Newsom to do the right thing.  One way to do that is to call his office and tell him that!

It’s super easy - just mash that button below. Do it now! Tell your friends to do it. Let’s make so much noise that Newsom will finally get it!

Watch this space…