Four actions you can take to save California solar

 

Solar power

 

This month is pivotal in the fight to save rooftop solar in California. And we’re calling on you to take simple, yet meaningful, steps to stand up for the policies that make this indispensable form of clean energy production affordable and accessible to countless Californians.

A plan proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this month would mean slashing the state’s landmark solar incentive program and would risk the continued growth of rooftop solar in California.

The impact from this change would be dramatic. New solar consumers would see the compensation they receive for the extra energy they provide to the electric grid decreased by 75% as soon as the CPUC proposal goes into effect. We’ve already seen what these sorts of policies have done to rooftop solar elsewhere in the country. Quite simply, when pro-solar policies are cut back or removed altogether, rooftop solar adoption drops. For example, when Nevada cut its solar incentive program, residential solar installations fell by 47% in the following year.

We can’t let the CPUC waylay solar growth in the Golden State. That’s why we’re calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to defend rooftop solar by taking action to press the CPUC to reconsider these plans.

But we can’t do this alone. Here are four ways that you can help us defend rooftop solar in California right now:

Email the Governor

Send an email to Gov. Newsom telling him to keep rooftop solar incentives strong. Show your support for solar to keep this critical clean energy growing in California.

Call the Governor’s Office

We’re generating as many calls into Gov. Newsom’s office as possible to ensure rooftop solar is a priority. Gov. Newsom’s office phone number is 916-445-2841, and his office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

Here’s a sample of what you can say on behalf of rooftop solar:

“My name is ___ and I live in ____. I am against the CPUC proposal that slashes the value of rooftop solar 75%! Nobody should be discouraged from putting solar panels due on their roof and California should be doing more, not less, to promote rooftop solar. Please get your Public Utilities Commission to revisit their proposed decision so that rooftop solar can keep growing in California.”

Raise your voice on social media on and after Nov. 17th.

November 17th is an especially important day to make your voice heard. Environment California and other environmental groups are holding a virtual “Save California Solar” rally to call on Gov. Newsom and the CPUC to revisit this rooftop solar proposal.

You can join us by raising your voice on social media.

By posting to the social media channel of your choice, you can show your support for California rooftop solar virtually. Tag Gov. Gavin Newsom to let him know that pro-solar policies are important to Californians.

Submit a letter to the editor of your local paper 

Letters to the editor are quick, effective ways to get your voice published where your friends, neighbors and local leaders can see it. We’ve developed a handy tool that will make it simple to draft and submit your letter.

This CPUC decision could seriously hinder California’s clean energy goals, which include getting to 100% clean energy by 2045. We’re urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to stand up for California rooftop solar. His sway with the CPUC is our best shot at preserving pro-solar policies that benefit everyone.

Your voice is loudest on the local level, and we know the more California voices there are standing up for solar in local papers across the state, the more likely Gov. Newsom will act.

Check out our online letter to the editor tool to write and submit a letter to your local paper.

Magnify your impact by encouraging family and friends to participate

Your action can make a difference, but the more people we can get taking action, the better.

Emailing Gov. Newsom and calling office, posting on social media and submitting a letter to the editor are meaningful actions all on their own. But if you can get three friends to join you in participating, you can triple your impact.

Our collective action can reap real results, but we all need to take the first step. These four actions, which you can complete with a simple dial of your phone and a few clicks of your computer mouse, are a great place to start.

Let’s stand together to defend rooftop solar in California.

 

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Authors

Steven King

Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California

Steven leads Environment California’s campaigns to increase clean, renewable energy throughout the Golden State, spearheading efforts to transition away from dangerous fossil fuels and address climate change. Steven lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys spending time outdoors, watching his favorite L.A. sports teams, and playing the trombone.