Leroy N. Soetoro
2024-04-20 22:05:35 UTC
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2024/04/fight-save-rooftop-solar-
california-heads-state-supreme-court
SACRAMENTO, Calif. The fight to save Californias rooftop solar program
now heads to the state Supreme Court, after it issued a rare decision to
hear the appeal of a case that will determine the future of renewable
energy in the state.
The court agreed on Wednesday to hear a challenge to a disastrous decision
by the California public utilities commission, or CPUC, to decimate the
states once-thriving rooftop solar program. The appeal was filed by the
Center for Biological Diversity, or CBD, Environmental Working Group and
the Protect Our Communities Foundation.
The Supreme Courts decision to take the case is a significant win for
supporters of clean solar power because the court takes up just 3 percent
of all appeals filed with it.
The decision comes months after the challengers filed a January 29
petition asking the high court to review a state appeals court ruling that
upheld the CPUCs decision. EWG said at the time that the appellate judges
gave far too much deference to the commission on approving the change.
The decision by the Supreme Court to consider the case is crucial to
aligning the standards for reviewing CPUC decisions with those of other
public agencies, said EWG General Counsel Caroline Leary. Without it,
unjust deference to powerful interests like the states monopoly electric
companies undermines legislative intent and obstructs fair decision-
making.
In December 2022, the CPUC slashed the financial credits provided to new
solar users for excess solar energy generated from their panels and sent
to the grid. Utilities pushed for the change to weaken demand for solar,
their biggest competition in California. The changes to this net metering
program, or NEM, went into effect on April 15, 2023, and the challengers
then filed a lawsuit against the decision.
That court case resulted in the ruling upholding the CPUCs decision. But
the Supreme Courts decision to hear the appeals courts ruling is a
chance to undo the damage and save solar.
The courts intervention is necessary to clarify whether the commission
can disregard societal benefits in setting tariffs for residential rooftop
generation and fulfill its obligation to promote rooftop solar growth in
disadvantaged communities under the NEM statute, said Leary.
The Supreme Courts decision is a ray of hope for rooftop solar at a time
when plummeting installations and massive layoffs are wrecking this vital
industry and jeopardizing Californias climate goals, said Roger Lin, a
senior attorney at CBD.
The Public Utilities Commission made a huge mistake thats putting
rooftop solars benefits out of reach for working-class families. But the
commission isnt immune from legal review, and Im now a lot more
optimistic that we can get back to a reasonable policy that helps
California fight the climate emergency and environmental injustice, he
added.
The outcome of the case before the states highest court promises to
reverberate far beyond Californias borders. It will set a precedent for
similar clashes between clean energy advocates and monopoly utilities
across the nation.
We commend the California Supreme Court for its decision to review the
lawsuit, said EWG President and Bay Area resident Ken Cook.
Before the state completely relinquishes its longstanding leadership in
building the most ambitious clean energy program in the nation, it is
imperative the high court consider all the evidence showing the social
benefits residential solar provides to every resident of the state, he
said.
The CPUCs disastrous decision at the behest of the states big three
investor-owned power companies to quash Californias wildly successful
solar program has decimated the states once-booming solar industry. It
has caused more than 17,000 jobs losses and numerous bankruptcies for many
installer companies throughout the state.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
california-heads-state-supreme-court
SACRAMENTO, Calif. The fight to save Californias rooftop solar program
now heads to the state Supreme Court, after it issued a rare decision to
hear the appeal of a case that will determine the future of renewable
energy in the state.
The court agreed on Wednesday to hear a challenge to a disastrous decision
by the California public utilities commission, or CPUC, to decimate the
states once-thriving rooftop solar program. The appeal was filed by the
Center for Biological Diversity, or CBD, Environmental Working Group and
the Protect Our Communities Foundation.
The Supreme Courts decision to take the case is a significant win for
supporters of clean solar power because the court takes up just 3 percent
of all appeals filed with it.
The decision comes months after the challengers filed a January 29
petition asking the high court to review a state appeals court ruling that
upheld the CPUCs decision. EWG said at the time that the appellate judges
gave far too much deference to the commission on approving the change.
The decision by the Supreme Court to consider the case is crucial to
aligning the standards for reviewing CPUC decisions with those of other
public agencies, said EWG General Counsel Caroline Leary. Without it,
unjust deference to powerful interests like the states monopoly electric
companies undermines legislative intent and obstructs fair decision-
making.
In December 2022, the CPUC slashed the financial credits provided to new
solar users for excess solar energy generated from their panels and sent
to the grid. Utilities pushed for the change to weaken demand for solar,
their biggest competition in California. The changes to this net metering
program, or NEM, went into effect on April 15, 2023, and the challengers
then filed a lawsuit against the decision.
That court case resulted in the ruling upholding the CPUCs decision. But
the Supreme Courts decision to hear the appeals courts ruling is a
chance to undo the damage and save solar.
The courts intervention is necessary to clarify whether the commission
can disregard societal benefits in setting tariffs for residential rooftop
generation and fulfill its obligation to promote rooftop solar growth in
disadvantaged communities under the NEM statute, said Leary.
The Supreme Courts decision is a ray of hope for rooftop solar at a time
when plummeting installations and massive layoffs are wrecking this vital
industry and jeopardizing Californias climate goals, said Roger Lin, a
senior attorney at CBD.
The Public Utilities Commission made a huge mistake thats putting
rooftop solars benefits out of reach for working-class families. But the
commission isnt immune from legal review, and Im now a lot more
optimistic that we can get back to a reasonable policy that helps
California fight the climate emergency and environmental injustice, he
added.
The outcome of the case before the states highest court promises to
reverberate far beyond Californias borders. It will set a precedent for
similar clashes between clean energy advocates and monopoly utilities
across the nation.
We commend the California Supreme Court for its decision to review the
lawsuit, said EWG President and Bay Area resident Ken Cook.
Before the state completely relinquishes its longstanding leadership in
building the most ambitious clean energy program in the nation, it is
imperative the high court consider all the evidence showing the social
benefits residential solar provides to every resident of the state, he
said.
The CPUCs disastrous decision at the behest of the states big three
investor-owned power companies to quash Californias wildly successful
solar program has decimated the states once-booming solar industry. It
has caused more than 17,000 jobs losses and numerous bankruptcies for many
installer companies throughout the state.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.