SACRAMENTO – The Environmental Working Group, along with its allies, is asking the California Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that threatens the future of clean energy in the state.
EWG, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation on April 17 petitioned the high court to review the California Court of Appeal’s March ruling upholding 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 three monopoly utilities sought the policy, seeing rooftop solar as their main competition.
The coalition has argued that, in upholding the policy, the appeals court gave too much deference to the commission’s decision-making, ignoring the California State Legislature's clear directives. They also say the policy failed to account for the many benefits of small, distributed solar systems, which help lower costs and make energy more affordable for everyone.
The following is a statement from EWG Senior Vice President for California Bernadette Del Chiaro:
Many Californians struggle to pay their ever-increasing electricity bills, and the commission’s ill-conceived policy will only make matters worse. Putting clean, reliable rooftop solar financially out of reach for millions of renters and homeowners makes no sense.
An affordability crisis is the time to promote efforts to reduce energy costs and save people money – not reward the monopoly utilities by throttling their competition.
If the Supreme Court agrees to hear our case, we’ll make clear how the commission’s anti-solar policy fails on every front. It’s unlawful, undermines efforts to lower electricity bills and harms Californians and our environment.
###
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.
