In a nearly unanimous decision yesterday, the California Assembly passed a bill that would allow a greater number of people in the state who produce their own solar power to sell the excess electricity to their utility company. Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) bill, AB 510, raises the Golden State’s net metering program capacity from 2.5 to 5 percent, a move that supporters say will result in wider adoption of solar technology and offset high electricity costs–and will perhaps even open up the solar market to those who had been formerly closed off to it. Governor Schwarzenegger has every intention to sign the bill, according to Rachel Arrezola, a spokeswoman for the Governor.
“The bill will help California achieve its renewable energy goals by allowing for increased solar installation, more jobs created and more renewable energy in California,” Arrezola said.
Under existing state law, California’s three largest utilities–PG&E, SCE, SDG&E–must obtain 33 percent of their energy from renewable energy resources by 2020, a renewable portfolio standard whose chances of being met would likely rise with the new measure, which provides further impetus for distributed solar generation. Considering that AB 510 passed by 53-1, California’s clean energy future appears to be on track.
My understanding is that the energy produced from residential producers (the ones using net metering under AB510) can not be counted toward utility obligations under AB1 (the requirements that utilities produce 20% of their energy from renewables in 2010 and 33% by 2020). The utilities have to find qualifying energy from larger producers.