Community Solar: Reviving California's Commitment to a Bright Energy Future

摘要

Although California has typically led the nation's march toward a renewable future, the state's tenacious reliance on the traditional, centralized model of energy generation has artificially stunted the potential growth of the renewable energy sector. California's current dichotomous incentive structure-which fosters only household-scale or utility-scale solar energy generation-stifles monumental market demand and perpetuates inequitable access to these technologies. Under the current system, 75% of ratepayers-particularly those without on-site generation capabilities-cannot access solar energy. California should therefore adopt legal structures prerequisite to widespread penetration of the community solar model in the state. Community solar is a mechanism through which multiple ratepayers can buy "shares" in a local, off-site solar system and receive bill credits for energy generated by the system. The California Legislature must make key changes to eviscerate various legal barriers to the adoption of community solar in California.