SACRAMENTO – California’s Supreme Court in a brief order today declined to hear an appeal by the Environmental Working Group and allies of an appeals court decision that threatens the future of affordable rooftop solar in the state.
The high court’s decision means the lower court’s ruling stands. The California Court of Appeals in March upheld a California Public Utilities Commission policy sharply scaling back the state’s once-thriving rooftop solar program, known as net energy metering.
The state’s monopoly utilities – Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison – sought the policy, seeing rooftop solar as their main competition and their regulator went along with them.
EWG, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation in April petitioned the state Supreme Court to review the appeals court’s ruling.
The advocates have argued that the appeals court, in upholding the policy, gave too much deference to the commission’s decision-making.
They also said both the policy and ruling ignored the California State Legislature’s clear directives on how to value rooftop solar. Specifically, they said the ruling ignored many benefits of small, distributed solar systems, which help lower costs and make energy more affordable for everyone at a time of sky-high energy bills.
The following is a statement from Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG’s senior vice president for California:
This is a deeply disappointing decision that sets California back on its clean energy goals. The net metering policy is fundamentally flawed and has had disastrous effects in causing rooftop solar installations to plummet, with significant job losses in the once-thriving solar industry.
At a time when Californians struggle to pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, it makes no sense to leave in place a policy that is anti-affordability, anti-clean energy and will further complicate the state’s ability to meet its clean energy goals.
EWG will continue to advocate for sensible, pro-renewable policies that promote reliable, clean power like solar and that can help with lowering the cost of energy in California.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) 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.
