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The California Supreme Court sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the proliferation of rooftop solar power in California.
In a unanimous vote, justices told a lower court to revisit a ruling that upheld reduced payments to solar panel owners for selling excess power back to utility companies. Justices did not rule on whether the changes to the solar program were legal, requiring the court of appeals to determine this.
“They basically said the lower court kind of punted on the whole substance of the solar payments decision,” Bernadette Del Chiaro, vice president for California at the Environmental Working Group, said. “I do think they’re clearly stating this needs to be reviewed.”
At issue is a 2022 decision by state regulators to reduce by about 75% payments to solar panel owners for excess power. The change was intended to help make bills affordable for all customers while still encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources. Three environmental groups that brought the lawsuit – the Center for Biological Diversity, The Protect our Communities Foundation, and the Environmental Working Group – argued in the case that the state utilities commission’s decision left out crucial considerations around benefits to customers and disadvantaged communities.
“We don’t need to be in an affordability crisis if we have more local generation,” Roger Lin, senior attorney from the Center for Biological Diversity, said.
The California Supreme Court sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the proliferation of rooftop solar power in California.
In a unanimous vote, justices told a lower court to revisit a ruling that upheld reduced payments to solar panel owners for selling excess power back to utility companies. Justices did not rule on whether the changes to the solar program were legal, requiring the court of appeals to determine this.
“They basically said the lower court kind of punted on the whole substance of the solar payments decision,” Bernadette Del Chiaro, vice president for California at the Environmental Working Group, said. “I do think they’re clearly stating this needs to be reviewed.”
At issue is a 2022 decision by state regulators to reduce by about 75% payments to solar panel owners for excess power. The change was intended to help make bills affordable for all customers while still encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources. Three environmental groups that brought the lawsuit – the Center for Biological Diversity, The Protect our Communities Foundation, and the Environmental Working Group – argued in the case that the state utilities commission’s decision left out crucial considerations around benefits to customers and disadvantaged communities.
“We don’t need to be in an affordability crisis if we have more local generation,” Roger Lin, senior attorney from the Center for Biological Diversity, said.
