AB 327 was passed by CA Legislators yesterday, it now is heading to the the Governor, who is expected to sign it after being a leader in shaping this bill. SolarWakeup spoke with Anne Smart from TASC after the news to hear from the boots on the ground what the reaction from the solar industry was.  The final version of the bill was positive news for solar and accomplished some great things including:

• Eliminated the suspension of net metering and created a pathway to a new framework for eliminating the net metering cap
• Eliminate uncertainly over how the current net metering cap is calculated
• Remove the 33% ceiling on the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. This means the 33% becomes a floor, not a ceiling

The bill began as a utility path to reshaping Residential rate schedules.  This also passed and will be discussed by the PUC in addition to the potential of up to $10 charge for lost revenue recovery (or whatever it will be called).

News

• Bloomberg: California Bill Would Expand Solar, Add Monthly Power Fee
• Greentech Media: With Assembly Passage, CA’s AB 327 Moves Toward Law
• Reuters: U.S. solar panel installations up 15 pct in 2nd quarter
• Solar Industry: Xcel Counters Critics With Proposal For 170 MW Of New Solar
• Breaking Energy: CA Proposes Framework For Energy Storage Program
• CleanTechnica: California Passes 600MW Shared Renewables Program
• Bloomberg: Japan’s Solar Imports Up 9 Times
• Forbes: How Solar Remains Attractive Without Key Incentives In California

Opinions

• Grist: Why firefighters are scared of solar power

Have a great day!

Yann

The value of solar energy…utilities are trying to shape it by being clever architects of rate schedules.  Across the global solar markets; the solar/storage combined system may reshape the dialogue of savings for distributed generation systems.  This topic is becoming a trend across publications in a big way, let’s see how the development shapes up.

News

• Solar Industry: Integrated Solar/Energy Storage To Represent $2.8B Market
• Forbes: Powering Up On-Site Solar, Will Leases Boost Fuel Cell and Wind?
• NY Times: The Next Wireless Revolution, in Electricity
• CleanTechnica: 50% Reduction In Cost Of Renewable Energy Since 2008
• PV-Tech: Listed solar companies in dash for cash
• Forbes: Can Large Scale Solar Plants Generate Returns?
• NJ Spotlight: Slowdown in New Solar Capacity May Actualy Be a Bright Spot
• Atlantic Cities: Why Firefighters Fear Solar Power

Opinions

• REnew Economy: How solar PV industry became a global phenomenon

Have a great day!

Yann

AB 327 seems to have gotten positive consensus from the solar industry.  Leading companies and trade associations have waived their support on behalf of AB 327 with the amendments.  Some more work for it to get done before session end but as always, the devil is in the details.  Anyone interested in publishing an AB 327 impact on CA rates and net metering, feel free to shoot it over to SWu.

News

• Vote Solar: CO Solar Delivers $11 Million in Annual Benefits to Xcel Grid
• RE World: Coupled Solar and Energy Storage Market to Grow
• Forbes: How Utilities Use Solar Energy To Woo Customers
• PV-Tech: California rate reform set to boost solar
• Daily Camera: Boulder to explore ways to encourage more use of solar
• Bloomberg: Solar Panel Is Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders
• MN Public Radio: MN’s solar requirement could change how we see grid
• CleanTechnica: 5 Barriers To And Solutions For Community Renewables

Opinions

• HuffPost: How Solar Lit the Way for Us to Survive the Recession

Have a great day!

Yann