Dear IndianaDG Readers:

So why should we care about a California virtual net metering bill? First, this article does a good job of explaining the rationale for virtual net metering. Second, it brings into the limelight additional net metering issues which Indiana and other states need to address. This blog will attempt to bring you additional articles addressing emerging issues and barriers to renewable energy and distributed generation. Should Indiana consider virtual net metering? Tell me what you think.

Laura Ann Arnold

California solar bill will not see the light of day

05.  September 2012 | Markets & Trends, Global  PV markets| By:  Cheryl Kaften

Legislation that would have provided customers of  California’s three major utilities – Southern California Edison (SCE) San Diego  Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) – with  access to virtual, net-metered photovoltaic energy was blocked in the state’s  Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce on August 31.

"There was an agreement between the Assembly Speaker, the Committee Chair,  and me that would have scaled the bill down to a pilot program under the Public  Utilities Commission’s guidance and oversight," explained Senator Wolk. However,  she said, "That agreement wasn’t honored and the bill died in committee,  depriving the public of innovative energy policy in line with Governor Brown’s  initiatives."

E2 Environmental Entrepreneurs, a group of U.S. businesses that championed  the bill, said it would have provided critical support for the state’s renewable  energy industry – noting that, although rooftop solar is a strong and  growing business in California, at least 75% of households cannot participate  because:

• They are renters and don’t own their own roofs;
• They do not have strong enough credit ratings to finance the installations;  or
• Their roofs are too small, or do not receive sufficient sunlight to make  such a project feasible.

SB843, the business advocates said, would have provided "all of these  California households and businesses the ability to voluntarily buy up to 100  percent renewable power from a shared facility in their utility’s territory and  receive a credit on their current utility bill."

The bill was not limited to solar generation; it would have applied to any  renewable facility that produced up to 20 MW of energy. "Three out of four  Californians are currently unable to take advantage of affordable and clean,  renewable energy through the state’s renewable power programs," Wolk said.  "SB843 would have changed that, giving consumers the opportunity to save on  their energy bill while encouraging more investment and creating thousands of  jobs in an important sector of our state’s economy – all without spending  any state funds or shifting costs to consumers who chose not to participate."

The bill was sponsored by the City of Davis and Superintendent of Public  Instruction, Tom Torlakson, and supported by a broad coalition that included  business, school, and environmental groups, affordable housing advocates; as  well as the Department of Defense (DOD) and many local governments.
"There was a tremendous effort on the part of the bill’s sponsors and  supporters, particularly the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, DOD, U.S. Navy,  Vote Solar, Clean Path Ventures, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Recurrent Energy,  and Renewable Funding. I want to extend my personal thanks to all those who gave  their time and effort in a last stitch effort to get this measure to the  Governor. Unfortunately, the coalition of support behind this measure was simply  no match for the high paid lobbyists and the campaign contributions of these  monopoly corporations," Wolk concluded.

Read more: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/california-solar-bill-will-not-see-the-light-of-day_100008292/#ixzz25sErgfa1