SACRAMENTO – The Environmental Working Group applauds California state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and other senators for today removing anti-rooftop solar language from Assembly Bill 942.
The move safeguards the state’s flagship clean energy program from yet another utility-backed attack.
“We’re grateful to Sen. Becker and other state senators for listening to the growing public outcry and standing up for rooftop solar,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG’s senior vice president for California. “The language that was removed was a brazen attempt by monopoly utilities to further sabotage local clean energy in favor of centralized control and higher profits.”
AB 942 is pending in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, which Becker chairs. A group of the bill’s critics wrote to Becker urging him to halt it over the troubling provisions.
In addition, over 150 community, justice, clean energy and environmental organizations previously sent a letter to the energy committee, also calling on it to stop AB 942.
“Today’s action goes a long way toward restoring California’s standing as a national leader on clean energy policy,” Del Chiaro added.
As introduced by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), AB 942 threatened to undermine the once-thriving rooftop solar program. The controversial provisions removed today would have retroactively broken long-standing solar contracts with an estimated 2 million homeowners and businesses.
Such changes would have seriously jeopardized the state’s clean energy goals at a moment when federal support for clean energy is under attack.
If enacted as introduced, AB 942 would have also punished homeowners and renters with solar at their properties. It would have stripped them of the annual bill credit all residential ratepayers receive from the state’s cap-and-trade auction.
The move to remove the anti-solar provisions from the bill follows outcry from a broad coalition of environmental and consumer advocates, individual voters, and the solar industry. They warned that the language would further harm California’s solar progress, raise costs for working families, and put more power into the hands of profit-driven utilities.
“This is a big win for consumers and the environment, and we thank Sen. Becker and his colleagues for standing up for the public interest in the face of some of the most powerful special interests in Sacramento,” said Del Chiaro.
“At a time when Washington is moving backwards on energy, California must remain a beacon of hope and lead the way to a brighter future powered by clean, renewable energy,” she said.
Note: To arrange an interview with Bernadette Del Chiaro about today’s Senate action on AB 942, please email Alex Formuzis at [email protected] or text (202) 617-1740.
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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.
