By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

One. Step. Closer.

Nearly a year after SB 100, the California bill that would mandate a 100% RPS by 2045, failed to make it out of committee, the bill is now on its way to a vote in the full Assembly after passing out of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee this afternoon.

The measure had received 38,000 messages of support, delivered to lawmakers ahead of the vote by a broad coalition of solar, environmental and social justice activists.

In what would be a historic decision, the California Assembly could pass SB 100 and create a clean-energy nirvana in state – and the Union of Concerned Scientists couldn’t be happier.

“We are excited California is one step further on the path of creating new jobs, cleaning our air and powering our homes, businesses and cars with clean, zero-carbon energy. Reducing carbon emissions and air pollution by transitioning away from fossil fuels is one of the most important actions our country and world must take to avoid the worst consequences of climate change,” said Laura Wisland, senior energy manager at the Union of Concerned Scientists.“We appreciate the leadership shown by California legislators to keep our clean energy momentum going strong.”

The move to 100% is the inevitable conclusion of California’s long march toward clean-energy independence under the leadership of Gov. Jerry Brown, who has slowly but surely moved the needle toward 100% during his tenure. By doing it gradually but relentlessly, Brown has overcome the objections of even his staunchest critics – of which there are more than a few – and has continued California’s leadership of the U.S. clean energy revolution.

Passage of SB 100 is, of course, not guaranteed, but making it out of committee is an enormous step forward after it failed to do so last year. At Intersolar North America, then CALSEIA leader Bernadette Del Chiaro led a rally in support of the bill, only to have it fall a few votes short. Now that it has made it out of committee, its supporters are feeling pretty confident about how this vote will occur in the full Assembly.

“On this Fourth of July, as we sing about beautiful, spacious skies, let’s commend the Committee on its visionary decision to clear those skies and power California’s future with 100 percent clean electricity,” said Michelle Kinman, clean energy and transportation program director with Environment California. “We applaud Chair Chris Holden and the Committee for acting to create healthier communities today and better lives for our children.”

“SB 100 will assure that California continues to be in the forefront of leadership in addressing climate change by both accelerating the procurement of solar and other renewable energy sources in the near future and assuring that all state agencies are taking a long-run view about the issues that need to be addressed to get to a 100% greenhouse gas free electric system by 2045 or earlier,” said Ed Smeloff, California policy and regulatory director at Vote Solar.

“The climate change-induced fires that continue to ravage California have helped spark a deeper commitment to shifting to renewable energy,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar + Storage Association. “From setting 100% clean energy goals to talk about electrification and a renewed comittment to energy storage on par with the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, California continues to focus on solving problems while creating jobs and economic development.”

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

It’s not double, but it’s close.

The new net-metering statistics are out in Florida, and the number of PV installations increased 92% from 2016 to 2017, from 4,365 to 8,434.

It’s amazing what can happen when you rationalize your solar policy.

Needless to say, the state’s installers are thrilled with the news.

“Florida’s solar growth has been explosive and it’s all due to the citizens who have been asking for solar for years,” said Michael Vergona, president of UrbanSolar. “Everyone wants another option for producing their own power and harnessing our abundant sun.”

One installer tied it directly to the passage of one piece of legislation.

“The passage of SB90 in 2017 told the world Florida was open for business, and we assumed it would finally breathe life into the solar industry in the Sunshine State,” said Justin Hoysradt, CEO of Vinyasun. “This month’s report is the verifiable evidence that those jobs are real, and they are coming, with the industry nearly doubling the solar installations occurring in 2017 versus 2016.

“Now, of the 62 investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities in Florida, all but 7, have active solar energy markets creating well-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced to China or automated by robots,” Hoysradt added. “It is clear that the Florida legislature made the right decision supporting solar for Floridians and the economy.”

All we can say is that it’s about time. For the past decade or so – ever since a Navigant Consulting report revealed the immense potential of the Florida market – everyone wondered when solar would actually become a significant part of Florida’s electricity production. Two major obstacles to solar’s development existed:

1) The overwhelming power of the utilities in the state, all of whom wanted to keep generation within their sole purview; and

2) The plethora of inexpensive electricity.

But starting in 2016, sentiment started to shift significantly, in part because of an ill-conceived (and ill-fated) attempt by the utilities to deceive Florida voters about their solar rights. And since the 2016 election, solar development in the state has moved forward with breakneck speed.

Now, as the Florida Public Service Commission has ruled third-party ownership is not the equivalent of regulated utilities, the market seems to have reacted favorably – and perhaps the pent-up potential of the Florida solar market can finally be realized. This report certainly provides some signs that point in that direction.