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California Governor Must Sign SB 700 To Make SB 100 A Reality

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Something magical happened in California yesterday. Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 100, which takes the state’s renewable portfolio standards (RPS) to 100% by 2045.

Imagine that. The world’s fifth-largest economy is now on its way to getting 100% of its electricity from non-fossil-fuel sources within the next 30 years. If you had suggested such a thing even seven years ago, when I first joined the solar industry, people would have called you insane (or worse).

But now that it’s done, it’s time to complete the circle and get the governor’s signature on SB 700, the companion bill to SB 100 that extends the incentive program for energy storage.

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Governor Brown himself appears to recognize that the two bills are inextricably intertwined, saying at yesterday’s signing ceremony that the 100% by 2045 goal couldn’t be reached without a significant increase in storage.

“To get to 100% clean energy in a manner that ensures reliability and reduces cost, we must use a variety of strategies,” Brown said in his signing statement. “Energy storage, increased efficiency and adjusting energy use to the time of day when we have the most power will all help with the transition.”

So what’s staying your hand, governor? Get on this and sign SB 700 already.

When SB 700 passed a couple of weeks ago, Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association, said this:

SB 700 will do for storage what SB 1 did for solar over a decade ago, namely create a mainstream market by driving up demand and driving down costs all while creating jobs and clean energy choices for consumers.

From SB 1 we got to SB 100, and it’s time for California to lead on storage as well as it has lead on solar energy. After all, as California goes, so goes the rest of the country – and the rest of the country has a lot of catching up to do.

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SB 700 Passes California Assembly – SGIP Program Extended Five Years

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

The final days of the California legislative session have been big ones for clean energy. First, the Assembly passed a 100% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they moved on to extend the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for five years, as well as adding $700 million in additional funding.

Now the bill will go back to the Senate for a concurrence vote and then on to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature. There are not expected to be any blips in that process.

As the California Public Utilities Commission says on its website:

The CPUC’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) provides incentives to support existing, new, and emerging distributed energy resources. SGIP provides rebates for qualifying distributed energy systems installed on the customer’s side of the utility meter.

For consumer-sited solar, that typically means batteries.

Bill sponsor. Senator Scott Wiener, had this to say to SolarWakeup after the bill passed:

“We are one step closer to meeting our aggressive renewable energy goals,” said Senator Wiener. “By expanding our use of energy storage we will be able to use solar power every hour of the day, not just when the sun is shining. This bill will also help to expand solar use in every city and neighborhood in California, not just those that can afford it. SB 700 will ensure that all communities benefit from these rebates and from an increase in renewable energy.”

“We are making the sun shine at night!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, the 500-member clean energy business group that has championed SB 700 for the past two years. ”SB 700 will do for storage what SB 1 did for solar over a decade ago, namely create a mainstream market by driving up demand and driving down costs all while creating jobs and clean energy choices for consumers.”

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Reaction from across the California solar industry was positive.

“Today’s Assembly vote to pass Senate Bill 700 is a win for clean energy and for all Californians,” said Alex McDonough, Vice President of Public Policy at Sunrun. “Sunrun has seen demand for home solar paired with batteries grow rapidly in recent years, as homeowners seek increased control over their energy bills and security for their families during power outages. We now look forward to the Senate’s concurrence on this important legislation that will unlock the incredible value that home batteries can provide for all Californians and our electricity grid.”

“Storage is an essential piece of building a carbon-free electric sector, and we applaud the Assembly for recognizing its role in our clean energy economy and passing SB700,” said Susannah Churchill, Vote Solar’s California Director. “Solar and storage are like peanut butter and chocolate: great on their own and even better together. We’re inspired by the last two days of forward-thinking among our California lawmakers and encourage continued momentum toward a fully decarbonized power sector. That means passing AB 893 and AB 813, which are both critical pieces of legislation to move the state and the country forward on clean energy and climate.”

“We are thrilled to see SB700 pass the Assembly,” said Rick Umoff, SEIA’s California state director. “This is a measure that we were proud to support because it will grow customer-sited energy storage, create local jobs and offer more tools to stabilize the grid. Our members and their customers will have an easier time deploying critical storage technology to the betterment of low income and disadvantaged communities, schools, hospitals and homes among others. We applaud CALSSA for the work it did to get this measure through the Assembly and we urge speedy passage in the Senate and enactment by Governor Brown.”

California’s SB 700 Moves Forward To Full Assembly Vote; Next Three Weeks Are Critical

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Last week, more than 200 solar + storage advocated descended on Sacramento to push for passage of of a significant energy storage bill.

Their efforts seem to have had the desired effect, as SB 700 – an energy storage bill that fell completely off the legislative radar last year – is now front and center as it moved out of the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and on to the full assembly floor. The bill would extend the incentives for the popular Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).

Between it and SB 100, which would move California to a 100% renewable portfolio standard (RPS), the next three weeks could be absolutely critical to pushing the full clean energy agenda forward in The Golden State.

As Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar & Storage Association, told the attendees of its Lobby Day, now is not the time to get complacent.

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Del Chiaro wrote in a note:

We now have three weeks to put the bill on the governor’s desk. Next week, if all goes well, SB 700 will be put to a floor vote giving all 80 assembly members a chance to vote for it. We need at least 41 votes to ensure its passage out of the assembly. Stay tuned for action alerts on how you can add your voice to this effort.

If we clear the assembly, we’ll head back to the senate for a concurrence vote. The bill passed the senate last year with 23 votes (need a minimum of 21) and faces less opposition this year due to amendments taken in the assembly. But you never know. It is the end of session so things get a little crazy.

We need to be loud and stay vigilant.

The momentum started at Lobby Day next week is the perfect example of what a motivated, strong show of support for solar at the state level can do. We applaud Del Chiaro and urge solar industries in other states to study and learn from California’s example. Together, we are an unstoppable force. Let’s translate California’s success into success across the country.

Oh, and stay vigilant, California – your battle isn’t over quite yet.

Q&A With Bernadette DelChiaro: California Lobby Day – What It Is And Why You Should Care

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

In a previous life, writer Frank Andorka spent his Februarys at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. attending the Legislative Day for the pest management industry. He’s always been surprised there isn’t such a national conference/day for the solar industry, but he did discover that the California Solar + Storage Association holds its own version in Sacramento on Wednesday. He asked Bernadette DelChiaro, the group’s executive director, about why she thinks “Lobby Day” is important. Here are her answers.

Frank Andorka (FA): What is Lobby Day?

Bernadette DelChiaro (BDC): Our annual Solar & Storage Worker Lobby Day is a chance for workers from across the state to educate lawmakers about the jobs our industry supports, and the value of those jobs to people and families. It also gives us a chance to push for our top legislative priorities, such as passing SB 700.

FA: Why is it important?

BDC: The state legislature sets the pace for the continued growth of solar and storage in California. Despite the state’s commitment to clean energy, powerful opponents to solar spend millions of dollars on insider lobbyists and make large contributions to political campaigns. The best way to cut through all this is for the men and women who make up our 86,000 work force to speak face-to-face with the decision makers, telling personal stories that will leave a lasting impression.

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FA: Why should people attend?

BDC: Before the end of August, California legislators will take several major votes that will drastically shape the solar & storage market. Anyone who works in solar or storage in California will be directly impacted by the decisions made by these lawmakers. Solar & Storage Worker Day is a great opportunity for average, everyday solar and storage workers to directly share their story, make a positive impression and win over votes.

FA: What is the most useful thing solar installers can do on Lobby Day (if they attend)?

BDC: Tell a story about themselves. Why did they choose a career in solar and storage? How long have they been doing this work? Why is their job worth protecting?

FA: How important is it for solar and storage professionals to get involved in the political process?

BDC: Utilities and fossil fuel companies are heavily involved in the political process, and they spend millions of dollars lobbying elected officials and influencing public policy. It’s critical for solar and storage professionals to get involved in the political process to counteract that messaging and let [legislators] know how things really are.

FA: What is the biggest issue facing California in the solar + storage industry?

BDC: In the near term, the looming expiration of the storage rebate program coupled with changing utility rates that make solar harder to pencil out. SB 700 would extend those rebates out five years [and dedicate] another $700 million to the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).