A few bills have moved forward in California that would advance solar power in the state in various ways. The state was long a leader in solar power legislation and growth, but that changed when the Golden State changed its net metering policy. Perhaps things will swing back in the other direction if these four bills moving through the legislature become laws in the state. They could — and should — also help to get electricity costs under control, which have skyrocketed in California for a handful of reasons.
The three bills related to plug-in solar (aka balcony solar), community solar, virtual power plants, and smart meters. PV Magazine summarizes the bills as follows:
If California gets all of these bills across the line, perhaps the solar industry will rise again in the state. It would definitely be a strong step (or three) in the right direction, and would diversify where and how solar power is installed in the state. Aside from large-scale solar power plants and conventional home solar, the state would get “balcony solar” (smaller scale solar than rooftop solar), community solar (between rooftop and utility-scale solar), and widely integrated solar and storage through virtual power plants (basically the largest scale solar). California’s not done yet, and the future is bright and electric, as our friend David Waterworth often says.
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