Back

Director's Picks

New Policy Proposal Dims Hopes of Reviving Community Solar in California

Summary

A proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has cast uncertainty over a three-year effort to revitalize California's community solar market. The proposed decision supports major utilities against a coalition of solar industry groups, consumer advocates, environmental-justice organizations, labor unions, and homebuilders. The Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT), designed to create an affordable and equitable community-solar program as mandated by the 2022 state law AB 2316, faces opposition from the CPUC, which claims it conflicts with federal law. NVBT supporters argue that the decision could undermine California's clean-energy goals, jeopardize federal aid for community solar expansion, and hinder the state's ability to achieve its renewable energy targets. The CPUC's alternative proposals suggest modifications to existing failed community-solar programs, raising concerns among stakeholders about feasibility and effectiveness. The final decision, expected in mid-April, will impact the future of non-utility-scale solar in California and its ability to attract federal funding.

discover more

December 5, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees signal a sharp turn toward fossil fuel expansion and climate deregulation. Key figures, including fracking executive Chris Wright f

December 5, 2024

A $200 billion surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects could release greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of all global coal plants, raising significa

December 4, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

During his final overseas trip as president, Joe Biden highlighted the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile U.S.-funded railway project in Angola connecting critical mineral-rich regions

December 3, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

Startups like Still Bright, Ceibo, and Jetti Resources are developing cleaner copper extraction technologies to meet surging demand driven by the energy transition. Innovations in

December 2, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, such as pumped hydropower and underground compressed air storage, are emerging as solutions to store renewable energy for extende

December 2, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

The Midwest Hydrogen Hub, spanning Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan, has received $22.2 million as part of a $1 billion federal investment to expand clean hydrogen production

November 29, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

A new study reveals that air pollution from wildfires causes 1.5 million deaths annually, with over 90% of fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries, particularly i

November 28, 2024
Economic Justice
Economic Justice

A report from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) reveals systemic racial bias in home appraisals has cost Black Americans $150 billion in home equity. Homes i

November 27, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

Community Church Atlanta transformed its Vicars Community Center into the city's first community-owned resilience hub, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Equipped with

November 27, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Michigan's Public Service Commission faces a lawsuit from about 80 townships and counties challenging its implementation of a new law, Public Act 233, which expedites permitting f

November 27, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The fifth and potentially final round of U.N. plastic treaty negotiations (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, centers on whether to impose global caps on plastic production. Advocates,

November 26, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Highways in the Twin Cities have perpetuated environmental and social inequities, disproportionately affecting urban communities. Black residents were displaced during their const

November 26, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

Ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration, the Biden administration is fast-tracking clean energy investments. The Department of Energy announced nearly $12 billion in loans,

November 26, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

COP29 approved controversial rules for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enabling countries to trade emissions reductions. Critics argue the gui

December 25, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

COP29 concluded in Baku with a contentious climate finance agreement that left many nations dissatisfied. The deal commits wealthy countries to lead efforts to triple climate aid