Assembly Bill 327 is up for final votes this week, and in a surprising turn of events, both the utilities and the solar industry now support it. Solar groups including The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), the Vote Solar Initiative (VSI), and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) all filed letters of support last week. And today, top agricultural solar developer REC also weighed in supporting the bill.
"AB 327 ensures solar and net metering stability in California for customers ranging from homeowners, to farmers, to small businesses," said Gabe Davis of REC Solar, a national leader in solar electric system design and installation. "Whether you have solar panels on a farm in the Central Valley, a winery in Sonoma, or a home in the city, AB 327 will help protect your investment."
REC Solar is a leading installer for agricultural facilities and businesses in California. The company has supported solar energy adoption for more than two dozen large and small growers throughout the state and continues to work with increasing numbers of farmers and ranchers turning to solar energy.
We hear a lot about solar for homes and small businesses these days, so I was particularly interested to hear about the benefits for sectors like agriculture, which are so integral to the California economy.
AB 327 will remove the current suspension on net metering that would go into effect at the end of this year, eliminate uncertainly over how the current net metering cap is calculated, and provide a framework for removing the NEM cap altogether. The bill will also remove the 33% ceiling on the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Expect more to come on the status of this bill as votes unfold throughout the week.
This article originally appeared on The California Majority Report.
