Solar Flare-ups
Solar power has become one of the cheapest sources of electricity and is viewed as a cornerstone of our clean energy future. But utilities in many states have challenged how much rooftop solar customers are compensated for their excess power – and what they pay to connect to the grid.
Climate One · Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
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Show Notes
Earlier this year, California regulators were set to propose significant changes to the incentives that drive rooftop solar installations. After widespread opposition from industry and climate advocates, the California Public Utilities Commission paused the effort. The issue centers on how much rooftop solar customers pay to use the grid and what rewards they get for selling their excess power.
But California is far from the only state where net metering is a hotly contested issue. While utility-scale projects may offer more bang for the buck in some contexts, rooftop solar offers distributed generation and a tool for resilience. This week, we explore the debate between rooftop and utility-scale solar.
Guests:
Adam Browning, Co-Founder and Executive Director Emeritus, Vote Solar
Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director, California Solar and Storage Association
Tom Beach, Principal Consultant, Crossborder Energy
Emily Sanford Fisher, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Sr. Vice President, Clean Energy, Edison Electric Institute
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