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California's New Solar Public Works Law (AB 2143): An Example of California’s Recent Leadership Failures on Solar and the Climate Posted on Jun 18, 2024
It appears that California’s prior solar policies were too successful. California's policymakers have been rushing to stop a solar industry that they helped create. The solar industry that California helped to create through policies supporting pr...
Can California Customers Directly Connect to the Grid Using a PURPA Application Instead of Going Through PG&E or the Local IOU for Net Metering or Net Billing? Posted on Jun 12, 2024
California's major Investor Owner Utilities (IOUs), including Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), have comprehensive interconnectivity rules approved by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). These rules are essential for develo...
How Does the Fixed Charge Bill Structure and Income Graduated Fixed Charge Adopted by the CPUC Impact Customers? Posted on Jun 11, 2024
In May 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a fixed charge bill structure that includes income-graduated fixed charges (IGFCs) for default residential electric rates. The CPUC vote was 4-0 vote with one recusal approvi...
Can a Contractor in California Charge a Homeowner for Materials Stored in Their Warehouse on Behalf of the Homeowner? Posted on Jun 11, 2024
Yes, a contractor in California can bill a homeowner for materials even if the contractor stores the materials in their warehouse on behalf of the homeowner. According to California regulations, if the contract explicitly provides for the transfer...
Powering the Future: Treasury and IRS New Guidance Could Supercharge American Clean Energy Manufacturing Posted on May 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), recently issued additional guidance aimed at bolstering American clean energy manufacturing. This move is a significant step towards achieving climate go...
New Rules, New Game: The Future of CA Solar Contractors Posted on May 01, 2024
On April 18th, 2024, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) issued a controversial rule that could significantly disrupt the operations of California solar contractors working in the clean energy sector. This regulation, pending cod...
The Fight for Solar Rights is the Greatest Social Justice Movement of Our Time Posted on Mar 18, 2024
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law Do people and businesses want self-sufficient power generation for their personal and professional needs? Do people want this now? When a fire consumes your power pole, ...
Grid-Connected Blinders Removed from California's Distributed Energy Racehorse Posted on Dec 29, 2023
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law There can be no doubt – California is, and has been, the world’s leader among states and countries in distributed clean energy. This leadership role is thanks to grassro...
What Type of Agreements Should Solar Contractors Use for Service and Repair Work for Homeowners in California? Posted on Nov 07, 2023
In California, specific regulations apply to service and repair contracts on solar and energy storage systems for homeowners. A condensed format is permissible for contracts $750 or less, provided the contract adheres to a specific structure, incl...
10 Top Business Plan Strategies for Solar Contractors Posted on Oct 18, 2023
What strategies should solar contractors include in their business plans to protect against some of the top risk factors involved in running a solar contractor business? Strategy #1: A Plan for Monitoring & Staying Involved at the Political &a...
Solar + Storage + Energy Controller = Microgrid Posted on Oct 10, 2023
The U.S. military understands the importance of microgrids. That’s why the official Department of Defense policy’s stated goal is that all bases be "power resilient." The need to have resilience in the case of a disaster that impacts the power gr...
Independently Owned Microgrids are Critical in the Era of Climate Change Posted on Apr 28, 2023
Biden’s climate agenda cannot be met unless policy approaches to energy supplies start dramatically supporting independently owned clean energy supplies. Our country is built around outdated methods of energy supplies dependent upon over 160,000 m...
Get Involved to Help Grow Solar in the U.S. Posted on Apr 13, 2023
Looking for ideas on how to help grow your business and the solar industry even faster? Check out the action items, education and award opportunities below. Join a solar trade association like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Americ...
American Solar Energy Society's 52nd Annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2023: Transforming the Energy Landscape for All Posted on Feb 21, 2023
Registration is OPEN to the American Solar Energy Society's 52nd Annual National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2023: Transforming the Energy Landscape for All. The conference will be a net zero emissions event and take place at the University of Colora...
Staff Opinion: NEM 3 Decision Could be Our Carpe Diem Posted on Dec 16, 2022
California energy regulators have the power to make, kill and stifle energy markets, and consumer choices. At a time when individual energy resiliency has never been more important, and will become increasingly so, that is what the California Publ...
Overview of Federal Solar Tax Credits in the IRA Posted on Oct 20, 2022
There are two tax credits available for businesses that purchase solar energy systems (see the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics for information for individuals): The investment tax credit (ITC) is a tax credit ...
The IRA Passed - Now What? Posted on Sep 22, 2022
The RE+ solar and storage cleantech conference happening right now in Anaheim, California is the largest cleantech event ever to occur in United States history. Over 26,000 people are registered for RE+. The conference sessions, meetings and buzz...
Get Read to Start Your CleanTech Business: Solar Installs Expected to Triple by 2027 Due to Climate Bill Posted on Sep 08, 2022
The Inflation Reduction Act, otherwise known as the largest Climate legislation enacted in U.S. history, is projected to Boost Solar Deployment by 40%. Are you inspired to start a new Cleantech business? Check out the Six-Step Guide that we crea...
Mária Telkes Fellowship now accepting applicants Posted on Jul 19, 2022
Applications are open now for the Mária Telkes Fellowship, a two-year executive leadership program for mid-career cleantech professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. The Mária Telkes Fellowship is hosted by the Cleantech Leaders Roundtable...
Center on Solar Consumer Protection! Posted on May 11, 2022
Solar energy is still new to many households and businesses. Companies must guide customers through the solar sales process and beyond to provide a good solar consumer experience. A company’s success in doing so, not only protects consumers, but a...
Could Texas Take the Solar Lead? Posted on Apr 22, 2022
Texas is a powerhouse in distributed PV, and could become the number one state in the U.S., especially depending on how California’s NEM-3 proceeding turns out. In Q1 to Q3 of 2021, distributed PV in Texas grew by 23% compared to California’s 14%...
Funding Notice: $25M Available to Improve Community Energy Resilience with Solar Posted on Apr 12, 2022
New funding opportunities are rolling out from the Biden Administration. Check out this one from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (...
Long-Duration Energy Storage - Don't Be Left in the Dark! Posted on Mar 31, 2022
Check Out the Virtual Fireside Chat with the MIT Club of Northern California Join experts as they discuss long duration energy storage including ancillary services and benefits to electrical power infrastructure. California SB100 sets a target ...
How to Start a CleanTech Business Posted on Mar 28, 2022
We created a checklist of tasks and considerations to help people start a solar company or other cleantech business. This checklist should be modified depending on the exact business type and plan, as appropriate. CleanTech Business Start-Up Chec...
Sign up for the American Solar Energy Society's 2022 National Solar Tour Posted on Mar 22, 2022
Every year the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) organizes a national solar tour. This year's tour is happening virtually and in person on October 1-2. The ASES National Solar Tour is a collection of Local Solar Tours, in addition to singl...
Our Net-Zero Future Posted on Mar 17, 2022
A growing number of people are transforming their properties and lifestyles to become net-zero carbon emission with their own solar and storage supplies capable of operating without the utility’s electric grid. The list of reasons why people are g...
Notice: Updated California Solar Consumer Protection Guide Posted on Feb 28, 2022
California solar contractors: A new version of the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide (PDF) is now accessible at www.cpuc.ca.gov/solarguide. Additional language translations will be added in the coming weeks. Solar providers must use the u...
The Fight for California Solar is at a Boiling Point Posted on Jan 17, 2022
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law On January 13, 2022, the largest solar demonstration in U.S. history occurred in California. Approximately 3,000 people rallied to save Californians’ rights to own sola...
The Public Does Not Understand How Distributed Solar in California Works, or Is About to Change Posted on Dec 27, 2021
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law Right now, a lot of misinformation and, simply a lack of understanding, exists among the public about distributed solar (often simply referred to as, "rooftop solar")....
New California Contracting Laws Come into Play January 1, 2022 Posted on Dec 21, 2021
AB 569 (Grayson)This bill increases from $5,000 to $8,000 the maximum administrative civil penalty CSLB can assess against a licensed contractor for most violations, and from $15,000 to $30,000 for the most serious violations relating to un...
Opinion - STAFF ESSAY Posted on Dec 14, 2021
What is Politics? Recently, a person asked us whether we think wind turbines are “a good technology.” The person had seen a video claiming that wind turbines cause massive amounts of wildlife deaths and was adamant that the video was not “pol...
Delivered: 128,000 public comments and 1 human billboard message Posted on Dec 10, 2021
Delivered: 128,000 public comments and 1 human billboard message These individuals made inspiring statements to the crowd and led the public comment delivery: Esperanza Vielma, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water Rev. Jason Bense, Luthera...
Time to Spruce Up Your Contracts Posted on Nov 22, 2021
Now is the Time to Update Your California Residential Installation Agreements We recently updated our California Residential Solar Installation Agreements to include terms required by the most recent California rules and regulations. A Spanish ve...
Free Business Speaking Class Posted on Nov 17, 2021
This free online class by Patrick Winston is about how to give a presentation so that a presenter's ideas are accepted and appreciated. The ability to verbally present ideas is critical to business and personal success. It's also a gift to the ...
Solar Ready Vets Program Posted on Nov 11, 2021
The Solar Ready Vets Network is a group of solar workforce development programs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) that connect veterans and transitioning military service members with career trai...
Five Reasons Why Governor Newsom Should Stand Up to the Utility Attack on Solar Posted on Nov 10, 2021
The following is a guest post from Cinnamon Energy Systems: The battle between rich monopoly utilities and the “behind the meter” solar industry is coming to a head right now in California. The three biggest utilities are lobbying the Public Utili...
The $1 Trillion U.S. Infrastructure Bill Paves the Way to Net-Zero Emissions Economy Posted on Nov 09, 2021
Some of the key funding allocations in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal include: $50 billion for programs and technologies that improve resilience $65 billion for grid improvements $7.5 billion to build a national network of EV chargers ...
Intersolar/Energy Storage North America Conference 13-15 January 2022 (Long Beach, CA) Posted on Nov 08, 2021
The Intersolar/Energy Storage North America Conference will take place at the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. As the first major solar + storage event of the year in North America, #isnaesna22 highlights the latest energy technologies,...
Protecting Your Contractor Business: RME Agreements Posted on Nov 02, 2021
Many solar and other types of cleantech companies need a contractor’s license to operate. This often involves either the owner of the company or an employee with a contractor’s license agreeing to be the responsible managing officer or employee f...
Homeowners in Common Interest Developments Have Solar Rights Posted on Nov 01, 2021
California, Florida and other homeowners living in common interest developments have the right to install solar systems according to state law. Yet, a large number of common interest developments and their governing associations think they can st...
Oregon Solar + Storage Conference - November 2-4, 2021 | Portland, Oregon Posted on Oct 20, 2021
We'll be going to the Oregon Solar + Storage Conference happening this November 2 - 4, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Attendees can earn NABCEP credits from the conference educational sessions. Check out the full agenda here
Energy Retrofit Policy Spotlight: Interview with Barry Cinnamon Posted on Oct 12, 2021
Last month, we began a series exploring policies that would solve the problem of the excessively high costs and long timelines required to retrofit existing buildings to become “net zero emission” properties. In this article, you can read our fir...
"Net Zero Emission" Energy Retrofits: A Critical Policy Issue to Solve Posted on Sep 24, 2021
One thing most experts in the cleantech industry agree on is that it is cheaper to build “net zero emission” buildings from scratch than to retrofit existing buildings to become net zero emitters. Although perhaps not invariably true across the U....
Texas Law to Protect Firearm Ownership Could Impact Renewable Energy Projects Posted on Sep 22, 2021
A new Texas law, SB 19, could be interpreted as applying to tax equity investors in renewable energy; and thus, ban those entities from doing any government solar projects if they have internal policies that prohibit firearms on the worksite or at...
South Bay contractors can learn to build all-electric in new course Posted on Sep 21, 2021
To meet growing marketplace demand, Sunnyvale-based Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) and the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Workforce Institute have launched FutureFit Fundamentals, a new online course focused on all-electric bui...
Recommended podcast by David Roberts of Volts with Adam Browning Posted on Sep 17, 2021
As many of you know by now, Adam Browning decided to step back from running Vote Solar and move into an advisory role for the group. Adam is definitely worthy of holding a place among those in top leadership positions who have helped the solar ind...- Page 1 of 3
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