J.D. Morris reports for the San Francisco Chronicle
April 10, 2019 Updated: April 10, 2019 4:06 p.m.

Clean-energy advocates advanced legislation Wednesday that aims to make it easier for Californians to use solar power despite concerns about the possible impact on customers who remain fully reliant on the electric grid.

The bill, authored jointly by state Sens. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber (Tehama County), is designed to enshrine in state law a right for homes, schools and businesses to take advantage of solar power without utilities putting up too many roadblocks.

Dubbed the “Solar Bill of Rights,” SB288 is also intended to help customers quickly connect renewable energy projects on their sites to the grid and avoid fees that the legislation’s major supporters call discriminatory.

The bill cleared the state Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee on a unanimous vote, even as some lawmakers on the committee voiced sympathy with objections from the utility industry and ratepayer advocates.

Read the full story


Like this? Click to receive free updates