Pasadena, Calif. – A panel of California appeals court judges heard oral arguments on Wednesday as part of a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Protect Our Communities Foundation and Environmental Working Group contesting the state’s recently implemented rooftop solar policy.
The policy was greenlit by the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, and backed by the state’s three investor-owned electric utilities, and took effect on April 15. It slashed the credits rooftop solar owners could get from their electric company for the surplus energy they generate and sell back to the grid. The credits allowed budget-conscious households to lower their monthly electricity bills.
The following statement is from EWG’s General Counsel Caroline Leary, who has been actively involved in the lawsuit and was in the courtroom for today’s oral arguments:
Today the court heard how the CPUC made a drastic change in rooftop solar incentives without following its statutory mandate to both consider all the social costs and benefits and to provide alternatives for solar growth in disadvantaged communities.
EWG was pleased to hear the court's concerns about the CPUC failing to place more importance on the benefits of solar in its decision.
The reality is the CPUC’s decision guts rooftop solar, puts rooftop solar financially out of reach for millions of working families, and fails to prepare California and the country for the worst impacts of climate change.
The rash decision by the CPUC to hobble the residential solar program is devastating California’s once-thriving solar industry, with more than 17,000 jobs lost by the end of this year, with more likely coming.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
