Letter: Local elected officials urge Gov. Newsom to save rooftop solar
Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
CPUC Docket #: R.20-08-020
Dear Governor Newsom,
On behalf of my city, I urge you to keep California’s rooftop solar programs strong. One of the most important policies that has helped grow rooftop solar in California is net energy metering, a policy that allows Californians to use energy from the sun to power their homes, apartments, schools, farms and businesses, and receive a bill credit for the excess electricity they send to the grid. This year, the California Public Utilities Commission is considering drastic changes to this critical program.
In 2021, Californians across our state have been faced with climate catastrophes. Our communities faced record heat waves, dangerous wildfires and increased air pollution. At this time we must speed up our transition to clean energy like rooftop solar plus storage, not undermine one of our best clean energy and climate programs.
Local solar and storage gives our communities clean energy choices that save money, keep the lights on, clean up our air, and fight climate change. To date, California’s energy policies have also resulted in nearly 75,000 solar jobs. A strong net energy metering program is essential to a thriving rooftop solar industry.
Lastly, in order to decarbonize and reach 100 percent clean energy, we need to empower and incentivize California’s residents and businesses to contribute to this effort. We must ensure that we are prioritizing the continued growth of local solar and battery storage and the benefits that they provide to all in our communities.
We encourage you to maintain a strong net energy metering program in California.
Sincerely,
John Freidrich, City Councilmember, South Lake Tahoe
Pauline Cutter, Mayor, San Leandro
Emmanuel Estrada, Mayor, Baldwin Park
Teresa Barrett, Mayor, Petaluma
Eli Beckman, Mayor, Corta Madera
Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor, Chula Vista
Claudia Bill-de le Peña, Mayor, Thousand Oaks
Chris Ricci, Council Member, Modesto
Gregory Raths, Councilman, Mission Viejo
Dan Kalb, City Councilmember, Oakland
Bill Baber, City Councilmember, La Mesa
Dennis Pocekay, City Councilmember, Petaluma
Claudia Jimenez, City Councilmember, Richmond
David Cohen, Councilmember, San Jose
Alexandre Monteiro, Councilmember, Hawthorne
Eddie Alvarez, Councilmember, Santa Rosa
Nithya Raman, City Councilmember, Los Angeles
Bobby Duncan, Mayor Pro Tem, Yucaipa
Loren Taylor, Councilmember, Oakland
Artemio Villegas, Mayor Pro Tem, Madera
Chris Duncan, City Councilmember, San Clemente
Nelida Mendoza, Councilmember, Santa Ana
Jon Willey, City Councilor, Cupertino
Jenny Kenoyer, Councilmember, Modesto
Valerie Arkin, City Councilmember, Pleasanton
Wes Speake, Vice Mayor, Corona
Debra Lucero, Butte County Supervisor, Chico
Charles Stone, Mayor, Belmont
Alma Beltran, Mayor, Parlier
James Campbell, Mayor, Belvedere
Robert Brownstone, Mayor, Half Moon Bay
Christian Dinco, Councilman, Eastvale
Ann Schneider, Mayor, Millbrae
Justin Massey, City Councilmember, Hermosa Beach
Steve Young, Mayor, Benicia
Pat Furey, Mayor, Torrance
Maryann Moise Derwin, Mayor, Portola Valley
Ronald Kott, Mayor, Rio Vista
Sofia Rubalcava, Mayor, Ventura
Victor Aguilar, Vice Mayor, San Leandro
Bruce Ackerman, Mayor, Fairfax
John Hidahl, El Dorado County Supervisor, Placerville
Kathy Ward, Mayor, San Clemente
Steven Vargas, Mayor, Brea
Alan Nagy, Mayor, Newark
Priya Bhat-Patel, Councilmember, Carlsbad
Otto Lee, Supervisor, Santa Clara County
Keith Corum, Supervisor, Glenn County
Jim Provenza, Board of Supervisors Chair, Yolo County
Barbara Halliday, Mayor, Hayward
Jaime Tarne, Mayor, Etna
Greg Bradley, Treasurer, Upland
Christy Gilbert Holstege, Esq., Mayor, Palm Springs
Paul Grisanti, Mayor, Malibu
Ann Schneider, Mayor, Millbrae
Paul Fadelli, Mayor, El Cerrito
Drew Boyles, Mayor, El Segundo