California Lawmakers Amend Assembly Bill 942 on Solar Incentives

News Summary

California lawmakers have made significant amendments to Assembly Bill 942, shifting its focus from rooftop solar incentives to consumer access to carbon credits. The changes were prompted by public advocacy and aim to address electricity cost burdens. As the bill advances through the legislative process, it reflects ongoing debates surrounding solar energy subsidies and their impact on both solar and non-solar customers in the state.

California lawmakers have recently amended Assembly Bill 942, a significant piece of legislation that originally aimed to alter rooftop solar incentives in the state. The revised version of the bill, which eliminates all references to rooftop solar incentives, is set to advance to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, initially was designed to address the increasing cost-shift burden imposed on non-solar customers due to subsidies received by solar energy users. The original proposal required new property owners with rooftop solar to transition to a lower net metering tariff, a change that would have affected agreements held by previous owners of the solar systems.

On July 15, during a Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee meeting, the bill underwent major amendments that redirected its focus toward consumer access to carbon credits instead of addressing rooftop solar incentives. This shift was in part due to public outcry and pressure from solar advocates, which led to a reevaluation of the bill’s intent.

As a result of the latest changes, supporters of the bill have withdrawn their opposition. Advocates of solar energy contend that the heightened public activism and turnout at protests played a crucial role in prompting the redesign of the legislation. The amendments to AB 942 are perceived to have maintained protections for rooftop solar, while addressing the broader goal of lowering electricity costs for a majority of California residents.

Looking ahead, AB 942 has the potential to undergo more amendments or could be stalled entirely. The fight surrounding rooftop solar incentives is expected to continue as solar advocates keep a close eye on related legislation, such as Senate Bill 710, which aims to support solar installations.

Background data indicates that previous rooftop solar incentive structures, established in the mid-1990s to encourage clean energy adoption, have contributed to rising costs for non-solar households. An analysis has shown that California’s rooftop solar system owners received significant financial benefits—amounting to over $8.5 billion last year—placing cost burdens on the approximately 10 million non-solar customers in the state. Critics argue that these solar subsidies create economic imbalances within the energy consumer base.

The revised focus of AB 942 aligns with broader regulatory changes affecting the compensation structure for solar energy in California. As part of this ongoing legislative process, the bill’s author, Calderon, has defended her decision to shift the bill’s focus, asserting that it targets long-term affordability issues for all consumers, not just those utilizing solar power.

Amidst this discussion, Calderon has faced scrutiny over her prior employment with Southern California Edison, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and motivations behind her bill. Protests against AB 942 featured significant representation from the solar industry, with advocates warning that any changes made to current subsidy structures could adversely impact the property values of homeowners with solar systems.

As the legislative process progresses, the future of Assembly Bill 942 remains uncertain, but the outcome will likely have lasting implications for both solar energy users and non-users alike in California.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Sacramento Bee: Op-Ed on Solar Incentives
• Wikipedia: Solar Energy in California
• KTVU: California Bill Could Slash Rooftop Solar Credits
• Google Search: California rooftop solar credits
• ABC10: Solar Owners Protest Bill
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Solar Energy
• Mercury News: Controversial Solar Bill Advances
• Google Scholar: California solar energy policies